Counselling, psychotherapy, psychology, behavioural work
BIRP note structure
BIRP records a session as Behaviour (how the client presented and what they reported), Intervention (what you did), Response (how the client responded to it) and Plan (what happens next). It suits structured, intervention-led work such as CBT or behavioural programmes, where the link between what you did and how the client responded is the point of the note.
This template is for counsellors, psychotherapists and psychologists who prefer to make the intervention explicit. If your work is less technique-driven, DAP is usually the better fit.
The UK standards it rests on
BACP Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions
Sets expectations on keeping accurate records appropriate to the service and on confidentiality.
UKCP Code of Ethics and Professional Practice
The equivalent professional standards for UKCP-registered psychotherapists.
HCPC Standards of conduct, performance and ethics
Apply to practitioner psychologists and any other HCPC-registered professional using BIRP.
UK GDPR Article 9 and the right of access
Session notes are special category data and clients can request a copy.
Must include
Date, session number, duration and practitioner
Every entry must be complete and attributable.
Behaviour: presentation and what the client reported
Observable facts and the client's account, kept separate from your interpretation.
Intervention: what you did, named specifically
"Cognitive restructuring of catastrophic thoughts about work" is reviewable. "Talked about work" is not.
Response: how the client responded to the intervention
The section that makes BIRP useful. It shows whether the approach is working.
Risk: assessed and recorded every session
Record the level, the nature of any risk, and what you did about it.
Plan: next session and any changes to approach
Links this session's response to what you will do differently or continue.
Optional
Homework set and completed
Common in CBT and behavioural work; shows engagement between sessions.
Outcome measure scores
Measures such as PHQ-9 or GAD-7 at set intervals show change over time.
Safeguarding concerns and actions
Recorded in full whenever they arise, including who you consulted.
Supervision discussed
A brief note that the case was taken to supervision, without the content.
The template
Replace anything in [square brackets]. Print it, save it as a PDF from the print dialog, or copy the text into your own document.
BIRP session note
Client: [Client name or reference] · Date: [DD/MM/YYYY] · Session [number] · Duration: [minutes] · Practitioner: [Name]
B: Behaviour
Presentation: [Mood, affect, engagement, appearance where relevant]
Client report: [What the client brought, including homework completed]
I: Intervention
Interventions used: [Named technique and what it targeted]
Rationale: [Why this intervention for this session]
R: Response
Client response: [How the client engaged and what changed in the session]
Progress towards goals: [Details]
Risk: [None identified / low / medium / high]. [Nature of any risk and action taken]
P: Plan
Next session: [Date]
Homework: [Task, if set]
Approach: [Continue / adjust, and why]
Referral or liaison: [None / details]
Sign-off
[Practitioner name], [Membership or registration body and number]
Use it in Atlacare
Each practitioner in Atlacare has their own note structure, set on the Team page, and BIRP is one of the options alongside SOAP and DAP, with the editor showing Behaviour, Intervention, Response and Plan sections. Notes can be marked Confidential so only the treating practitioner and the practice owner can see them.
Atlacare