DAP Note (Play Therapy Session)

(Concise DAP progress note template for play therapy with children. Write in neutral, behaviorally anchored language suitable for the clinical record. Omit elements that do not apply rather than leaving placeholders. Do not include process/psychotherapy note content. Always include a safety screening line in Data, and if interval history is missing, document why.)

Client: [name or initials per policy], [DOB], [MRN/ID]

Date of Service:

Session Time: [start time] – [stop time] ([total minutes])

Location/Modality: [in-person office / school / home / telehealth with patient location]

Participants: [child, caregiver(s), others present] (Note who was present for which portion if varied.)

Service Type: [individual play therapy / family play therapy / collateral]

Data

Presenting focus: [working goal or precipitating event for today's session] (1–2 sentences; if a new event led to the visit, note what changed since last session.)

Interval updates: [caregiver and/or child report since last session relevant to treatment goals] (Include stressors, sleep, behavioral changes, functioning. If no interval history obtained, briefly state why.)

Observed presentation: [affect/mood, regulation capacity, engagement with therapist, developmental functioning, arousal level] (Use objective, behaviorally anchored descriptors rather than diagnostic labels.)

Play process: [materials/toys used; themes observed; intensity and progression patterns; how child positioned therapist in play] (Describe play without interpretation. Include clinically or legally significant direct quotes only if applicable.)

Interventions → Response: [play therapy method used] → [child's observable response] (Document each intervention delivered and the child's response. Include only those used today.)

Safety screening: [SI/HI indicators and abuse/neglect concerns assessed; findings] (Required every session. If risk is elevated, document what was said/observed, who was informed, and immediate actions taken.)

Assessment

Clinical summary: [interpretation of salient play and relational patterns; regulation capacity; therapeutic alliance] (3–5 sentences. Use cautious language such as "consistent with" or "suggestive of" for inferences.)

Progress toward goals: [goal-by-goal notation with evidence of progress or barriers; quantify when feasible] (If no progress on a goal, note why and whether plan adjustment is needed.)

Risk formulation: [risk level with rationale and protective factors] (Include only if risk was elevated above baseline in Data section.)

Plan

Next session: [target skills or themes; planned play therapy methods/interventions]

Between-session tasks: [child practice or caregiver strategies assigned; who agreed; anticipated barriers] (Include only if tasks were actually assigned.)

Caregiver/collateral coordination: [parent coaching focus, school consult, referrals with rationale] (Include only if applicable.)

Safety plan: [supervision level, crisis contacts, mandated reporting actions, follow-up timeframe] (Include only if risk concerns present.)

Next appointment: [date/time or scheduling status]

Provider: [name, credentials, role]

Supervisor: [name, credentials] (Include only if supervised session.)

Signature:

Date/Time Signed: