EMDR Progress Notes

Learn how to use an EDMR Progress Note to keep track of your client's progress. Download our free PDF template and example now.

By Ericka Pingol on Aug 2, 2025.

Fact Checked by Ericka Pingol.

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What is an EMDR Progress Note?

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy that can help people process traumatic memories. It involves the patient focusing on certain external stimuli, like eye movements, while they revisit past traumatic experiences. This helps them gain insight into how to work through those experiences.

Mental health professionals use an to track their clients' progress during therapy. Clinicians must document session details to provide the best care and follow-up treatment recommendations.

The progress note comprehensively records each therapy session, documenting the client's emotional responses, distress levels, and significant shifts in thoughts or feelings. It includes the client's current symptoms, specific targets for EMDR processing, interventions used, and the client's response. It also shows the client's progress over time and identifies areas that need further exploration or treatment.

EMDR Progress Notes Template

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How does it work?

Carepatron's printable EMDR Progress Note can help you monitor your client's progress more efficiently. Follow these steps to use the free template:

Step One: Access the worksheet

Get a copy of the EMDR Progress Note using this page's link or the Carepatron app. You may also access it from our resources library.

Step Two: Fill in the relevant sections

Fill in the relevant sections of the progress note with your client's information. This includes their demographics, current symptoms, and specific EMDR targets. Ensure a detailed description of each session, such as interventions used and the client's response.

Step Three: Review and monitor progress

Once you've completed the progress note, review it to identify any areas of concern. Use this as a basis for further discussion with your client and to track their progress.

Step Four: Create follow-up plans

Using the progress note, create follow-up plans and recommendations. Consider any changes that may be necessary to ensure your client is on track for meeting their goals.

When would you use this free EMDR Progress Note?

You may use Carepatron's EMDR Progress Note for any client undergoing EMDR therapy. This template can track the client's progress for each session, document interventions used, and provide an overview of the client's overall progress. Additionally, you can employ this template to:

Identify any areas of concern

The EMDR Progress Note is a great starting point to determine areas of concern during the client's treatment. Tracking their progress over multiple sessions makes spotting any areas needing further exploration or therapy easy.

Create follow-up plans and recommendations

Using the progress note, you can create further plans to ensure your client is on track for meeting their goals. This may include recommendations for additional interventions or techniques to help move the client toward their desired outcomes.

Monitor the effectiveness of interventions

The EMDR Progress Note allows you to objectively track the efficacy of specific interventions and techniques used in the therapy. This can help you adjust the treatment plan if specific strategies do not yield the desired results.

Facilitate communication with other professionals

The EMDR Progress Note can be a valuable tool to communicate your client's progress and the approaches you use in therapy with other healthcare providers. This ensures a coordinated and comprehensive care approach for the client.

Benefits of free EMDR Progress Note

Here are some of the benefits of using Capatron's free EMDR Progress Note:

It's pre-made and fully digital

Our EMDR Progress Note is pre-made and readily available for use, saving you time in creating your own. Additionally, since it is fully digital, you don't need to worry about carrying around physical paperwork or dealing with the hassle of filing.

It's easily customized

You can modify the EMDR Progress Note to meet your needs- add or remove questions, change the language to reflect client-therapist dynamics better, and add images or diagrams to provide a more visual representation of progress.

It helps with documentation

With Capatron's EMDR Progress Note, you can easily track your client's progress and document their treatment journey. This is especially helpful in meeting licensing requirements and staying on top of insurance and billing paperwork.

It can increase your confidence and competence

Using a thoroughly comprehensive form like the EMDR Progress Note can help boost your confidence and competence in providing valuable EMDR services to your clients. You will have an apparent reference of the steps you have taken with each client and a document to share with other practitioners if needed.

Commonly asked questions

Mental health professionals practicing EMDR, such as psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists, can use EMDR Progress Notes.

You can use EMDR Progress Notes before, during, or after a session to track your client's progress. This can be especially useful when you are referring out for services and need an easy way to share the details of each case.

EMDR Progress Notes are typically filled out with information about the client's presenting issue, mental health history, and progress. This helps to track changes in a client's condition over time and can provide valuable insight into their treatment journey. It is important to note that each client may require different EMDR interventions depending on their needs.