We all know we need to take notes of our sessions, but should we do so while the client is talking?
Let’s start with the benefits of live note-taking. If we are writing while the client is speaking, we are more likely to capture important detail and be more accurate. If we wait until after the client leaves, due to the frailty of human memory we may either miss important facts, or remember something in a distorted way, neither of which are helpful to the client.
However, as with all of the other decisions we make in our counseling practice, the first consideration is the effect on the client. Some clients perceive live note-taking as a concrete demonstration about how much the therapist cares about what they are saying, and may even expect you to do it. For other clients, at best it is a distraction and at worst it is perceived as something that the therapist is using to hide behind, particularly if they are using a laptop.
According to the Psychology Today forums, where a number of therapists chat about clinical issues, opinions are split. About half the members take notes live, with the others waiting until after the session is over. Most of the live note-takers use paper and pen, with some simply jotting down phrases they will remember later. If the client is talking about something with intense emotion, the pad gets temporarily put down. In addition, the consensus seems to be that laptops are definitely out because they create a physical barrier. An exception is when you are working at an agency or other setting where you have to enter information on the computer while the client is speaking.
It also matters how you feel about it. If you are uncomfortable taking live notes, then that discomfort will be projected into your interactions with the client and could negatively impact the therapy process. Personally, I generally avoid live note-taking because I have found it to interfere with my ability to be present with the client. An exception is during the intake session, because I know my brain won’t remember all of the new information without some help. During intake I’m careful to jot down only the most basic of information, so that I am not distracted by writing continually while the client is speaking. I also casually mention that I will be jotting down a few notes, and I’ve never had a client complain about this. After the session is over, I use the handwritten notes as a guide when typing up my official intake notes.
My suggestion would be to try the different modes, and see which work better for you. The more comfortable you are, the better psychotherapy service you can deliver.
Yours in the Joy of Knowledge,
Dr. Barb LoFrisco
