Child Therapy Session Notes Template
Description:
This template is designed for documenting ongoing child therapy sessions, capturing the child's progress, the interventions used, and the plans for future sessions. It provides a structured format to track the child's development, behavior, and emotional state, as well as interactions with parents or caregivers.
Note:
This template is for general therapy sessions with children. Adjust sections based on the child's age, the session's focus, and the therapeutic approach used.
Date: [Record the date of the session]
Session Number: [Note the session number in the sequence of therapy]
Client Name: [Enter the child’s full legal name]
Therapist Name: [Enter the therapist’s full name]
Duration: [Note the length of the session in minutes]
Attendees: [List who was present during the session, e.g., child, parent(s), therapist]
Check-in
[Note how the child is feeling or behaving at the start of the session, and any recent positive experiences or challenges reported by the child or parents.]
Review of Previous Session and Homework
[Summarize the main points from the last session.]
[Review any homework or tasks assigned, including what was completed, any challenges or successes, and how they relate to the child's goals or development.]
Current Focus and Activities
[Describe the main issues or areas of focus for this session, such as building social skills, managing emotions, or improving family communication.]
[Detail the specific activities, games, or interventions used during the session, and how they relate to the child's needs.]
Child's Participation and Observations
[Record the child's engagement with the activities, their behavior, and any notable statements or actions.]
[Note any progress or regressions observed in the child's behavior or skills.]
Parental Involvement
[If parents were present, note what was discussed with them, any observations they shared, and any guidance provided.]
[If parents were not present, note any communication with them before or after the session.]
Goals and Progress
[Review the child's current goals and how they are progressing towards them.]
[Note any adjustments to goals or new goals set during the session.]
Plan for the Next Session
[Outline the plan for the next session, including any specific topics to cover, activities to use, or goals to achieve.]
[Assign any homework or tasks for the child or parents to complete before the next session.]
Therapist's Observations and Impressions
[Record any observations about the child's presentation, such as their mood, affect, or body language, that are relevant to their therapy.]
[Note any impressions or hypotheses about the child's development or the effectiveness of the interventions, which can guide future sessions.]
[Document any adjustments to the treatment plan or concerns that need to be addressed in future sessions.]
Child Therapy Session Notes Template (Filled Mock Session)
Date: May 10, 2025
Session Number: 4
Client Name: Emma Thompson (age 7)
Therapist Name: Dr. Lisa Chen
Duration: 45 minutes
Attendees: Emma, Dr. Chen, and Emma's mother (present for the last 10 minutes)
Check-in
Emma seems a bit subdued today. Her mother reports that she had a disagreement with a friend at school this week.
Review of Previous Session and Homework
Last session, we worked on identifying emotions through a coloring activity. Emma completed her homework of drawing faces to represent different emotions and labeled them correctly.
Her mother says Emma has been using emotional words more frequently at home.
Current Focus and Activities
This session focused on understanding and managing anger. We used a puppet show to depict a scenario where a character gets angry and then calms down.
Emma participated in a role-play where she practiced taking deep breaths when feeling angry.
Child’s Participation and Observations
Emma was engaged during the puppet show and laughed at the funny parts.
In the role-play, she initially struggled with deep breathing but improved with practice. She said, "Breathing helps me feel better."
She also mentioned that when she gets angry, she wants to hit something, but she knows that's not good.
Parental Involvement
Emma's mother joined the last 10 minutes. We discussed the importance of modeling calm behavior and reinforcing Emma's use of coping strategies.
Her mother agreed to practice deep breathing with Emma at home when she's upset.
Goals and Progress
Emma's goal is to manage her anger without hitting or yelling. She has shown some progress in recognizing her emotions and is starting to practice coping strategies.
We need to continue reinforcing these skills.
Plan for the Next Session
The next session will focus on problem-solving skills to handle disagreements with friends.
Homework: Emma will practice deep breathing at home when she feels angry and tell her mother about it.
Therapist’s Observations and Impressions
Emma is making progress in emotional awareness and is receptive to learning coping strategies.
Her mother's involvement is supportive, and it's beneficial to have her reinforce the skills at home.
I need to ensure that Emma has opportunities to practice these skills in real-life situations and discuss them in future sessions.