DAP notes are a method of organizing note-taking for therapy sessions. Keeping a clear and organized set of notes assist therapists in understanding how a patient thinks, what goals are appropriate for each patient, and how much progress a patient is making. DAP notes are especially useful because they break the patient information into three categories, making sure that a therapists notes are
. complete and well organized. Specifically, DAP is an acronym for how information is organized within the file: D stands for Data; A stands for Assessment; and P stands for Plan.The Data section of the notes includes the facts of the therapy session, including what the patient said or reported,observations about their basic mood and behavior, reviewing past assignments and how they were completed outside of therapy, and more. The data section is typically the longest piece of a DAP notes page for a session.The Assessment section of the notes includes an evaluation of treatment progress and current status of the patient. It may also include preliminary diagnoses and estimations of treatment requirements and information about the patient's willingness or ability to proceed.The Plan section of the notes Includes timing of subsequent sessions, as well as future foci for treatment sessions. This area is where updates or alterations in the course of treatment are recorded, depending on progress. Homework assignments given are also recoded here.As a standardized organization of therapy session information, DAP notes allow other people involved in treatment to understand exactly what went on during the session. DAP notes in therapy are included in patient files, and can be instrumental in achieving long-term results by tracking progress in a consistent manner. More information about how to utilize and organize DAP notes is available at http://www.cfs.purdue.edu/mft/Forms/Student/Resource/Casenote.PDF. There, Purdue university gives samples of how DAP is done well, and tips and tricks for using DAP to simplify therapy. More reference links: http://www.cfs.purdue.edu/mft/Forms/Student/Resource/Casenote.PDF http://www.freewebs.com/loisehrmann/Case_Recording_Styles.ppt
