Group Notes Template

What Is A Group Note Template

Group note templates are a great way to document the progress of clients within a group setting. You can write individual notes for each participant in the session, without having to draft separate progress notes for each person - although this is also welcome too. With group notes, you can accurately assess the dynamics, as well as specifics according to each participant. Group sessions are an integral component of many therapy practices, and so having this option can elevate the quality and standard of your notetaking practices. Using a group note template allows you to produce rich insight pertaining to the health of your clients.

Each group note covers the summary of the purpose of the session, the interventions used, as well as personal details for each participant, in addition to their individual responses and treatment goals. It encompasses behaviors, moods, and appearances, as well as any issues, significant interactions and reactions, and other influences. Group notes can be adapted to meet your specific needs, and can be altered to suit your preferences.

How To Use This Template For Group Notes

There are various group note example templates out there, however, to avoid common pitfalls, it’s best to stick to this simple step-by-step guide to using this template.

Access the PDF template

The first step is to download the group notes template, which should open automatically within your PDF reader software. Once you have accessed the resource, you can edit and customize the template to suit your needs. If you prefer to handwrite, you can also print the document.

Fill in your and your client's credentials

Because group notes involve a number of personal details, depending on the number of clients in your session, it’s important that you take the time to double-check all information. Make sure that names are spelled correctly, the right birth dates are listed, and so on.

Complete all sections

Of course, you need to fill out all the group note sections to complete the note. Make sure you’re observant, and include all significant details to maintain and produce rich insight that aids in treatment and recovery. Be concise, and succinct.

Step Four: Securely store your notes

Once you've completed all sections of the group progress notes, you need to store the information within a secure platform that has encryption services in place. This is absolutely non-negotiable, as it means you stay HIPAA compliant and at minimal risk from data hacks.

Who Can Use this Printable Group Note Template?

Group notes are a less conventional format than individual patient notes, however, they’re highly effective for those within the mental health and therapy space. Group notes are great for counselors implementing group therapy sessions, and can work towards high-quality care for a variety of different specialties. Group notes typically fall under professions where social components are part of the recovery process, and where clients would benefit from discussion and group exercises to increase inclusivity. Sometimes it helps to put their problems into perspective, and discuss with others what they’re going through for support. Some of these include the following:

1. Counselors
2. Grief counselors
3. Therapists
4. Psychotherapists
5. Psychologists
6. Life coaches
7. Substance abuse therapists
8. Addiction therapists

This is just a handful of mental health professionals who may incorporate group therapy as part of their treatment plans. Essentially, if you find yourself wanting to facilitate group components, and wanting to bring clients together who face similar problems, then group notes are for you. Don’t overthink the specifics, as every note will look different depending on the specific needs required, and the goals needing to be accomplished.

Why Is This Template Useful For Therapists

There are various reasons why group note templates are useful for therapists, and can increase the practicality and efficiency of their practice. This includes:

• Track progress of multiple clients - The great thing about group notes, is that you can successfully attend to the health concerns of more than one patient at once. You can facilitate treatment across clients at the same time, without having to compromise on quality.
• Greater organization - Writing notes about more than one patient at once seems like a challenging task, but through this group note template, you can achieve the impossible. You can have simplified notes that capture all critical aspects of a client’s health status, and in a clean format that allows you to assess multiple patients.‍
• Structured sessions - Using group note templates, you can have more structure to your group sessions, in terms of what you’re recording, and what interventions are needed. This is always a plus, especially in group settings when sometimes therapists can get a bit off track when balancing ad coordinating discussion across multiple people.

Benefits of Group Notes 

There’s also a multitude of benefits for those who incorporate group notes in their practice, including the following.

Save time

One of the best reasons to incorporate group note templates into your practice is because it can cut down on the number of hours spent drafting and creating quality group notes. With the template, all the relevant information is listed for you, meaning that you don’t need to do any extra planning. We acknowledge that healthcare is time-consuming enough as it is, and you need to do what you do best; attending to and treating your clients. 

Provide balanced support

It’s quite common for some patients in group settings to fly under the radar, especially for those who are quieter than others. This can lead to less insight into treatment for some patients, and quite simply, an unbalanced assessment - which is a big no-no in healthcare! You must provide equal care to all of your clients, and this group note template is formulated to do exactly that. 

Facilitate meaningful professional relationships

Working with clients in one group setting is a perfect opportunity for you to develop closer professional connections, with group note templates recognizing this. You can increase participation, and work towards meaningful healthcare relationships that attend to each client as a whole. As I’m sure you know more than anyone, patients are not just a number, and it’s important that you’re working with them at all times to prioritize effective treatment. 

Greater engagement 

As a result, you can also have greater engagement with your clients when working with group note templates. Because you have all the essentials laid out for you, you can spend more time acknowledging your clients’ thoughts, feelings, and experiences, without disruption. You can attend to their concerns and health developments, without having to worry about what sections to cover. 

Legal and insurance protection 

Finally, using group note templates means you can increase legal and insurance protection, which is super important. Group notes serve as sufficient evidence in court cases, in case you’re needing to prove your professional judgment and reasoning, which is always comforting to know. Additionally, you can also increase billing accuracy by having faster reimbursements that pertain to the exact treatments and assessments used.