How AI-Generated Notes Are Changing the Way I Practice Therapy. For Better and Worse.

I’ve been a therapist for over a decade, and for most of that time, writing notes has been one of the most draining parts of the job. It’s not that documentation isn’t important. It is. But the mental energy required to revsit and comb through each session in order to summarize the important details in a very specific way, after you’ve just finished a long day of emotionally intense work? That part wears you down over time.

I’ve been using artificial intelligence (AI) note-taking software for the last four months. For a clinician who has been writing detailed notes for every single session of their entire career, this change was significant. Read on to hear my honest thoughts about my first hand experience using AI note-taking software, along with some insights and some concerns.

The Benefits: Time Saved and Mental Energy Recovered

One of the most immediate and obvious benefits of using AI is the amount of time it saves. What used to take up hours of time after a busy day, now takes a matter of minutes. Instead of spending my evening catching up on documentation, I’m spending that time with my family and my work/life balance has noticeably improved. Instead of squeezing in documentation between sessions, I’m taking a breath and preparing for the next client.

And it’s not just the time. It’s the mental bandwidth. Re-running a session in your mind, especially a heavy one, is like living it twice. That’s emotionally taxing. AI handles the transcript, creates a summary, and formats the note. It gives me space to breathe between sessions and reduces the emotional residue that comes with back-to-back work.

This shift has helped me feel more present during sessions and more refreshed afterward. It has also helped me stay on top of my notes in a way that used to feel almost impossible on busier weeks.

Legal Protection and Emotional Neutrality

Another major advantage is the neutrality of the language. Most therapists early on in their careers, myself included, carry anxiety about what happens if a note gets subpoenaed by a judge or reviewed during an insurance audit.

AI-generated notes are matter-of-fact and lean toward objectivity. They remove the subtle tone or emotional bias that can sometimes creep into our documentation. There’s no risk of the therapist’s unconscious feelings or opinions entering into the record unintentionally. That means the note is not only cleaner but more professional and legally sound.

They’re also more likely to meet insurance documentation standards. If you’ve ever struggled to write notes that strike the right balance between clarity, privacy, and clinical justification, AI takes out a lot of the guesswork. These are notes that can hold up to audits and reduce the likelihood of claim denials or insurance clawbacks.

The Drawbacks: What Gets Missed

Of course, there are trade-offs. AI isn’t a therapist. It doesn’t always catch the things that matter most.

For example, if most of the session focused on one issue, but a major emotional shift happened in the last five minutes, the transcript may not capture the significance of that moment. Sometimes the turning point of a session isn’t in the words spoken, but in what was felt. And that doesn’t always translate into a clean summary or keyword-highlighted insight.

AI also generates treatment plans that, while technically correct, often feel too generic. “Client will reduce symptoms of anxiety” or “Client will identify coping strategies” are fine, but they don’t sound like the actual goals my clients and I discuss together. They need to be edited, reframed, and made personal.

Less Reflection, Less Growth?

One of the biggest things I’ve noticed is that using AI has made it too convenient to do my job without taking the time to reflect on my sessions. When I used to write notes manually, I would spend time thinking about what actually happened, what mattered most, and how it connects to the broader arc of treatment. That process, while mentally draining, helped me develop insight and prepare thoughtfully for the next session.

Now, because the note is already done for me, it’s easy to skip that reflection entirely. That concerns me. Not just for myself, but especially for newer clinicians.

When you’re starting out, writing your own notes is part of how you learn. It’s how you figure out what’s clinically relevant, how to structure your thoughts, and how to see patterns over time. Skipping that step might save time in the short term, but it could slow down your development in the long run.

Think of it like learning math. You don’t need a calculator to learn addition and subtraction. You need to understand the basics first. Once you have that foundation, then tools like calculators, or AI, can help you move faster without losing accuracy.

Take this how you will, but I’m glad that AI note-takers weren’t around when I started practicing therapy. Building the habit of reflecting on my sessions early on in my career is one practice that continues to serve me, even now with the assistance of an AI note-taker.

A Word of Caution About Over-Reliance

AI-generated notes often come with follow-up prompts or bullet points that suggest topics to revisit. That’s helpful. But I can see how some therapists might start relying too heavily on those cues, rather than remembering the more nuanced parts of the therapeutic relationship.

It’s easy to fall into the habit of only following up on what AI flagged as important, rather than what you know, from your own memory and insight, was meaningful to the client. Questions like “How did that job interview go?” or “You mentioned your sister was visiting. How was that?” may not make it into the transcript, but they’re essential to building trust and showing genuine care.

Therapy is relational. That’s something no algorithm can fully replace.

Final Thoughts

Overall, my experience with AI has been overwhelmingly positive. It saves time, reduces stress, improves compliance, and helps me focus more fully on the parts of therapy that matter most. It’s a tool that can help reduce burnout and improve sustainability for people working in a very emotionally demanding profession.

But it’s just that. A tool. It should supplement, not replace, your clinical mind. It should support your ability to think, reflect, and stay connected to your clients. If we rely on it too heavily, we risk losing the depth, creativity, and attunement that make therapy effective in the first place.

So yes, I’ll keep using AI. And yes, I’m grateful for what it’s brought to my practice. But I’ll also keep thinking for myself. And I’ll keep encouraging new clinicians to do the same.

Because ultimately, the best therapy still comes from human connection, thoughtful reflection, and showing up with your full attention, not just your software.

Wayne Klee, LPCC-S, LMHC (CA, OH, WA) is a practicing therapist writing about mental health, clinical work, and the insights that come from sitting with people who are doing the work. To get future posts delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe here.