Why Create Your Own Template?
You may find that the notes generated from a starter template do not fully match your preferences. For example, they may:
omit information you would normally include
include information you would normally leave out
refer to the client differently than you would, such as using their name instead of "Pt" or "Cl"
phrase information in a way that does not sound like your usual documentation style
Custom templates help address these differences.
How Do I Create a Custom Template?
A template has two parts:
a schema, which defines the sections in your therapy note
example notes, which show the content, tone, and formatting for each section
Define the Sections with the Template Schema
The schema defines the section names that appear in your note. For example, the SOAP notes starter template includes four sections:
Notes generated from this template will use those same four sections.
Define the Styling/Content of Sentences/Paragraphs with Example Notes
Example notes show IntelliSession the style and structure you want it to follow. We recommend including two to four example notes for each template.
There are a few things to keep in mind when choosing example notes:
Make sure your example notes are consistent with one another. If their content and formatting are very different, such as a couples intake note versus a discharge note, consider creating separate templates instead.
Example notes should be high-quality and representative of what you want, so you are satisfied with the notes IntelliSession generates from them.
How Example Notes Guide IntelliSession
Example notes can guide IntelliSession in the following ways:
If multiple example notes include a particular detail, such as the next meeting time in the last paragraph, or the client's family history in the second paragraph, IntelliSession will learn to include that information in the right location as well.
If you refer to the client as "Cl" or "Pt," IntelliSession will do the same. If you refer to yourself as "therapist" or "LMFT," IntelliSession will follow that convention too.
If you prefer to include a bulleted checklist of goals in your note, IntelliSession will mirror that format.
If you typically split your notes into five or so short paragraphs, IntelliSession will reflect that structure.
If you document suicidal ideation using specific, consistent phrasing, IntelliSession will follow that phrasing when your example notes use it consistently.
If most of your example notes describe a client's upbringing as good, IntelliSession may infer a bias toward that answer when the topic comes up during a session.
FAQ
Will Deleting a Custom Template Affect Notes Generated with It?
No. Deleting a custom template only removes the template's schema and example notes. It does not affect notes that were already generated from that template.
Is There a Limit to the Number of Example Notes I Can Include in a Template?
Yes. You can only include up to four example notes.