How to Become Efficient with Clinical Documentation | Therapist THRIVAL Guide Ep. 6

Every therapist will say that documentation and paperwork is their least favorite part of their job-- but how do we get into a groove and become more efficient?! We are joined by Alicia Exsted, LPCC and Erin Opoku, LMFT (who are both documentation masters) to discuss real tips for getting your clinical paperwork done quickly and well.
TIPS FOR CLINICAL DOCUMENTATION:
- Block extra time off at the end of your day to write diagnostic assessments or catch up on case notes
- Write treatment plans in session WITH clients
- Be concise in your #documentation! Your notes do not need to be novels-- just include the minimum necessary (this is for your client's privacy and protection too!)
- Set an alarm to signal to the client when the session has ten minutes left (this is especially important for clinicians that find themselves walking their client out at the 59th minute!). When you are able to end sessions on time, you have those seven minutes between sessions to document case notes.
- If you find yourself in that initial DA avalanche when you are first starting out, take it one step at a time. You will get through this!
The Therapist Thrival Guide is a #podcast from Ellie Mental Health. We want to take #therapists from just surviving to thriving. This is everything you didn't learn in graduate school! This podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, MSW LICSW and Dr. Lucas Volini, LMFT. We'll have a different therapist guest for each episode to talk about what they've learned and what they want to teach other therapists. This series will be covering topics like burn-out, client retention, session structure, and balancing professional relationships.
Dr. Lucas Volini, LMFT, has been practicing as a marriage and family therapist for over ten years. He has worked as a couple's therapist, a graduate and undergraduate professor, researcher, author, and now as the Senior Director of Innovation at Ellie Mental Health...But he mostly sees himself as a professional recreational golfer.
Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for a year and a half. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Executive Producer at Ellie Mental Health and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.
Therapist THRIVAL Guide is one of many creative productions from Ellie Mental Health. Ellie is an outpatient mental health clinic that began in St. Paul, Minnesota and has continued to expand to over 20 clinics in Minnesota and a growing number of franchises across the country (we'll be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide in the near future!!).

[@chasegraboyes-reed1443]

Great content. Thank you all for sharing your experiences!!!

[@evanschloss1819]

Also it would be really helpful for clinicians to see samples of efficient case notes and DAs.

[@apple1hun]

Thank you for this ❤

[@FoCoCo750]

What is aDA?!

[@evanschloss1819]

What EHRs do you all recommend for private practice and what EHR allows you to complete a progress note in 90 seconds?