Transcription for therapists: session notes without the typing

Progress notes after a full day of sessions are the classic burnout task. Dictating them right after each session, while it’s fresh, halves the effort.

Short answer: Record or import on iPhone with AI Transcribe — transcripts arrive with speaker labels and timestamps, in 32 auto-detected languages — then use the AI tools (Summarize, Create a todo list, Proofread and 12+ more) to turn the transcript into the document you actually need.

Where transcription earns its keep for therapists

• Post-session process notes — dictate 3 minutes of impressions; Summarize turns them into a structured note.
• Supervision prep — record your own reflections and extract themes with Highlight key ideas.
• Letters and reports — dictate first drafts and refine with the rewriting tools.

What to know first

Recording an actual session requires the client’s informed consent — in writing, in most frameworks. AI Transcribe is a general-purpose productivity app: audio is processed in the cloud, and it is not a certified medical-records or compliance system. Check your organization’s recording and data policies before recording sensitive conversations. Many therapists dictate about the session (their own notes) rather than recording it, which avoids the consent question entirely.

The workflow

1. Capture: record live (up to 2 hours) or import audio/video files up to 3 hours — any common format.
2. Transcribe: automatic language detection, speaker labels, timestamps.
3. Process: run the AI tools on the transcript — summary, key points, to-dos, dates, rewrites.
4. Export: text or PDF via the share sheet, into whatever system your work lives in.

Frequently asked questions

Should I record client sessions? Only with explicit informed consent and a clear policy basis. Self-dictated notes after the session capture most of the value with none of the risk.

Can it structure notes in a format like SOAP or DAP? The AI tools produce summaries, key points and action items; pasting into your documentation template takes seconds.

What does it cost? Free to download and try; the Pro subscription (weekly or annual) unlocks up to 3 hours of transcription per day.