Quick answer
A SOAP note is a structured method for documenting a client or patient session in four parts: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan. Originally developed for medicine, it's now used by therapists, counselors, and coaches to keep session records clear, consistent, and easy to follow from one appointment to the next.
The format was created by Dr. Lawrence Weed in the 1960s as part of the Problem-Oriented Medical Record, and it has since become one of the most widely used note-taking frameworks in healthcare and, increasingly, in professional coaching.
What does SOAP stand for?
SOAP is an acronym for the four sections every note contains:
S: Subjective
What the client tells you, in their own words. Their concerns, feelings, history, goals, and how they say they’re doing.
Example: “I’ve felt anxious about work all week and haven’t been sleeping well.”
O: Objective
What you observe or measure, the facts. Behaviors you noticed, data, assessment scores, attendance, or anything measurable. No interpretation here, just observations.
Example: Client appeared restless, spoke quickly, completed 2 of 3 agreed action steps.
A: Assessment
Your professional interpretation of the Subjective and Objective sections. Progress, patterns, what’s working, your clinical impression or coaching insight.
Example: Anxiety appears tied to an upcoming deadline; client is engaged and making steady progress.
P: Plan
The next steps. Actions, homework, interventions, what you’ll cover next session, or any referrals.
Example: Practice the breathing exercise daily; revisit sleep routine next session.
Why use SOAP notes?
- Consistency, every session is documented the same way, so nothing important gets missed.
- Continuity, you (or a teammate) can pick up exactly where you left off, even months later.
- Progress tracking, patterns become visible across sessions when notes follow one structure.
- Communication, a shared format makes it easy to hand off, collaborate, or refer a client.
- Professionalism and compliance, clear, organized records protect both you and your client.
Who uses SOAP notes?
SOAP notes started in medicine and are standard for many regulated professions:
- Therapists, counselors, and psychologists
- Speech-language pathologists (SLPs)
- Occupational and physical therapists
- Social workers and case managers
They’re also increasingly used, in an adapted form, by coaches: life coaches, health and wellness coaches, business coaches, and others who want a professional, repeatable way to document sessions and track client progress.
SOAP note examples
Example 1: a therapy session
S: Client reports increased anxiety over the past week, primarily related to a work deadline. Says sleep has been “broken” most nights.
O: Appeared restless, spoke rapidly. Completed 2 of 3 agreed coping exercises since last session.
A: Situational anxiety linked to work stress; client is engaged and applying tools. No safety concerns.
P: Continue daily breathing practice; introduce a wind-down routine for sleep. Review progress next session.
Example 2: a coaching session
S: Client says they feel “stuck” on launching their side business and keep delaying the first step.
O: Set a goal two weeks ago; completed market research but not the landing page. Energy high when discussing the vision.
A: Motivation is strong; the block is around perfectionism and a fear of “going public.”
P: Commit to publishing a simple landing page before next session. Define “good enough” together.
SOAP notes vs. other note formats
SOAP is the most common framework, but not the only one. You may also see:
- DAP (Data, Assessment, Plan), a shorter, three-part format.
- BIRP (Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan), common in behavioral health.
- Progress notes, a broader term; a SOAP note is one type of progress note.
Most practitioners pick one format and use it consistently. SOAP is popular because it cleanly separates what the client said from what you observed from your judgment from what happens next.
How to write a good SOAP note
- Write it soon after the session, while details are fresh.
- Keep the Subjective in the client’s words; keep the Objective free of interpretation.
- Be concise and specific, useful beats long.
- Avoid unnecessary jargon; write so a colleague could follow it.
- Keep notes secure and confidential. If you’re a licensed healthcare provider, your notes are protected health information under HIPAA. Coaches typically aren’t HIPAA-covered entities, but should still store client notes securely and privately.
Write SOAP notes in seconds, not minutes
Soap Notes gives coaches and therapists a built-in SOAP note editor, plus scheduling, invoicing, and a client portal, all in one place. Get started free, no credit card required.
