Keep Perfect Session Notes with Google Forms (No Expensive Software)
Therapists & Providers Who Work Directly with Clients
If you’re a therapist, counselor, SLP, OT, PT, or any provider who works with clients regularly, you know how critical it is to keep accurate session notes. And not just for your own records, but for client progress, insurance compliance, and legal protection.
Practice Management on a Budget
Most practice management software costs $50–$200 a month, and the “affordable” options are often clunky or missing the features you need. Paper notes are slow to fill out, hard to organize, and impossible to search later. Even a Word or PDF template quickly becomes a mess of unlinked files.
There’s a better way — and it’s free.
The Google Forms-to-Sheet Workflow
Instead of paying for software, you can use Google Forms + Google Sheets to create a streamlined, searchable session note system that works from your phone, tablet, or computer.
Here’s how it works:
Create a Google Form with all your essential note fields:
Date
Client Name
Session Type
Summary & Progress
Next Steps
Billing Notes or CPT Codes
Connect it to Google Sheets. Every time you fill out the form, your notes are automatically stored in a timestamped spreadsheet.
Search and Sort Instantly. Need to pull up all notes for one client? Or see every session you’ve done in the past month? A few clicks in Sheets and it’s all right there.
Why It Works So Well
Consistent format. No more skipping fields or forgetting key details.
Always accessible. Works on any device with internet access.
Fast to fill out. Especially if you use dropdowns and checkboxes for common entries.
Free to use. All you need is a Google account.
Searchable history. Your entire note history in one place — not scattered across folders or paper files.
A Quick Note on Privacy
If you work in a field that requires HIPAA compliance, you’ll want to use Google Workspace with a signed BAA (Business Associate Agreement) and make sure access is locked down to your account only. Even without HIPAA requirements, it’s good practice to secure your Drive and limit sharing.
Ready to Save Time?
I’ve built a Therapist Session Notes Template you can plug into your own Google Drive in minutes. It includes a ready-made form, a connected spreadsheet, and example entries so you can see exactly how it works. It’s free to use.
📂 Get the Therapist Session Notes Template here
Need a custom build? Send me an email or drop a comment below.