Writing therapy progress notes is one of the most time-consuming (and burnout-inducing) tasks for mental health providers. With the rise of AI tools designed specifically for clinical documentation, there's now a way to reduce the admin load—without sacrificing quality or compliance. But are these tools truly safe to use?

In this article, we explore:

• A breakdown of the top AI tools for clinical documentation

• Critical concerns around ethics, privacy, and long-term consequences

• Questions every therapist should ask before adopting AI for note-taking

  

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The Promise: Faster Notes, Less Burnout

AI documentation tools promise to turn audio recordings, transcripts, or dictations into structured notes like SOAP, DAP, or narrative formats. Many advertise HIPAA compliance, signed BAAs, and even learning features that mimic your style over time.

For overwhelmed clinicians juggling full caseloads, these features offer real relief. So which tools are worth looking into?

Comparison: Leading AI Note Tools for Therapists

Best for Budget: Therapro AI
Starts at: Free (or $19/month for Basic Plan)
Use type: Manual text entry, live dictation, or session recording
HIPAA-compliant: ✅ Yes, with BAA
Ideal for: Therapists who want structured, editable notes on a budget
Why it stands out: Therapro AI offers a generous free plan with no-frills, editable templates. You can process full session recordings or use manual entry.

⚠ According to its Privacy Policy, TheraPro states: “We do not sell your identifiable data…We do not use your identifiable data for the purpose of training our AI models.” However, it reserves the right to use de-identified data “in any manner…to develop, improve, and provide our Services.” Session transcripts and PHI are stored indefinitely unless manually deleted by the user—no automatic deletion exists. Therapists should routinely delete data and revise informed consent language to reflect this policy.

Most Tailored to Mental Health Practices: Berries (Use code: GELEEN for $50 off)
Starts at: $99/month
Use type: Live session recording, manual entry, or transcript upload
HIPAA-compliant: ✅ Yes, with BAA
Ideal for: Clinicians who want beautifully formatted, therapy-specific notes
Why it stands out: Berries was built only for mental health providers. Features like pre-session prep, editable sections, and client-facing summaries help streamline sessions without removing clinical nuance.

✅ Berries maintains strict HIPAA and PHIPA compliance and clearly states: “We do not use any data to train AI models.” Their Privacy Promise confirms they do not use PHI to train AI, do not sell data, and automatically delete session recordings after notes are completed. All recordings are auto-deleted after processing, with optional 30-day retention for notes. No data is sold or licensed to third parties.

Most Customizable: AutoNotes AI
Starts at: Free (or $21/month paid plans)
Use type: Typed entry, dictation, or live recording
HIPAA-compliant: ✅ Yes, with BAA
Ideal for: Tech-savvy therapists who want speed, control, and variety
Why it stands out: Supports a range of note formats and includes screening tools (e.g., PHQ-9). Customizable templates and browser extensions boost efficiency. AutoNotes AI affirms compliance with HIPAA, HITECH, and 42 CFR Part 2, and maintains administrative, physical, and technical safeguards. ❓Autonotes also states it “does not collect, store, or transmit PHI.” It may use de-identified data for research and share with third parties. BAA status is unclear. Providers should clarify data use and avoid entering identifiable PHI unless policies change.

Best Free Plan with Real Utility: Upheal
Starts at: Free (basic), $29+ for full features
Use type: Audio/video recording, Zoom integration, or manual summaries
HIPAA-compliant: ✅ Yes, with BAA
Ideal for: Therapists wanting analytics, high accuracy, and a robust free tier
Why it stands out: Beyond notes, Upheal gives insights like talk ratios, session pacing, and client tone.
Session audio recordings are automatically deleted by default once processed (unless explicitly retained with consent), and transcripts, insights, and notes can be deleted anytime by the therapist (with options for automatic deletion at the practice level).

⚠ According to Upheal's privacy page, de-identified transcripts may be used for model training only with opt-in from both therapist and client. These are retained for up to 5 years unless revoked. Session recordings are deleted by default after note generation. Access to PHI is logged and limited to trained personnel.

Best for Medical + Mental Health: Tali AI
Starts at: Free for light users; $45+ for unlimited
Use type: Real-time scribing, audio dictation, or manual entry
HIPAA-compliant: ✅ Yes, with BAA
Ideal for: Clinicians in hybrid (mental + medical) settings
Why it stands out: Built for physicians and therapists, Tali AI shines in fast, accurate dictation and integrates into Chrome or some EHRs.

❓ Tali is HIPAA, PHIPA, PIPEDA, and SOC 2 Type II compliant. While it doesn’t use PHI for training, it does use de-identified transcript data to improve features. Data is retained for up to 30 days, with de-identification occurring before long-term retention. Consent is required, and PHI is not used in AI training.

Best for Teams and Prescribers: Freed
Starts at: $90/month annually
Use type: Audio, manual entry, browser extension
HIPAA-compliant: ✅ Yes, with BAA
Ideal for: Prescribers and clinics that need shared templates and analytics
Why it stands out: Smart Visit Prep, "Learn My Format" tools, and Chrome support make Freed appealing for large practices.

⚠ Freed operates under Canada’s PIPEDA, offering strong general protections. But its privacy policy lacks clear detail on session data handling. Freed reserves the right to “use de-identified information for commercial purposes,” including product improvement and possibly AI training. There's no explicit mention of deletion timelines, BAA provisions, or opt-out mechanisms for therapists.

Best for Evidence-Based Custom Notes: Mentalyc
Starts at: $14.99/month (annual) to $74.99/month (for 330 notes)
Use type: Audio, manual entry, real-time dictation
HIPAA-compliant: ✅ Yes, with BAA
Ideal for: Mental health professionals
Why it stands out: Mentalyc supports a wide variety of formats, analytics, and templates—and deletes transcripts after use..

✅ According to Mentalyc’s security documentation, the platform does not store recordings, removes personal information post-session, and encrypts all data in transit. Notes are customizable and editable, and all outputs can be reviewed before saving. Consent templates and BAAs are provided in-app. Their AI is guided by ethical language principles and case-specific relevance, and they openly commit to radical transparency and informed consent.

What Therapists Aren't Being Told

Even if AI tools claim HIPAA compliance, they may still:

• Use de-identified data for AI training

• Retain session recordings indefinitely

• License or share anonymized transcripts with third parties

This is not a violation of HIPAA, because de-identified data isn’t protected under it. But that doesn’t mean it’s ethically sound or legally risk-free.

As researchers have shown, de-identified voice data and transcript patterns can be re-identified with surprising accuracy.

Even companies like SimplePractice admit to using de-identified transcription data for AI model improvement. And Freed AI reserves the right to “use de-identified information for commercial purposes,” including product improvement and possibly AI training. These are not fringe cases, they're becoming industry standard.

Ethical Red Flags & Power Imbalances

• Informed consent is rarely truly informed – Many clients don’t understand that their therapy sessions could train machines.

• Session recordings are legally riskier – Unlike summary notes, recordings may be subpoenaed and lack filterability.

• Automation can dull clinical instinct – AI may reduce the therapist's active role in reflection, which undermines relational presence.

Questions to Ask Before Using AI Tools

• Does the platform offer a signed BAA?

• Are there automatic deletion settings for session data?

• Is data used for AI training, and if so, can you opt out?

• Would your clients consent if they understood the full data journey?

• Does the tool enhance or replace your clinical voice?

Updated Review Based on Privacy and Ethics

A Final Thought

If therapy is meant to be a deeply human, confidential, and relational process, we must hold our tools to a higher standard. Convenience matters. But so do ethics, privacy, and professional identity.

Not all AI is bad. But not all AI is built with your clients in mind.

Read the fine print.
Ask the hard questions.
And choose tools that honor the sacred nature of your work.

Need Help Choosing?

Not sure which note tool fits your practice, values, and workflow? Book a free 30-minute strategy chat and get clarity on what’s best for your needs, ethics, efficiency, and all. Schedule your free session here.