AI note-taking in therapy sessions: how it works and what precautions to take

AI note-taking means a psychologist no longer has to write during the session. The tool transcribes what is said and prepares the session report, which you review before it joins the patient's record. Used well, it makes you more available during the session and saves time afterwards. It also calls for a few precautions, which this page sets out for practice in France.

How it works

During the session

The patient has been informed and has agreed. The tool captures the session from your computer, tablet or phone, and the audio is turned into a transcript. You no longer need to take notes continuously.

After the session

A few moments after the session ends, the AI prepares the report from the transcript, taking your specialty and approach into account. It covers what was discussed, changes since the last session and the points to pick up again. You review it, correct what needs correcting, and add what the AI cannot perceive (posture, a silence, your clinical impression). The report is then added to the patient's record, so you find the whole follow-up in one place.

The other option, dictation after the session

If the patient does not want the session to be captured, or if you prefer this method, you can dictate your observations in the minutes that follow. The tool prepares the report in the same way.

The framework to respect in France

Inform the patient

Under French law, capturing statements made in a private or confidential setting without the person's agreement is punishable by one year's imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros (article 226-1 of the French Criminal Code). The same article provides that agreement is presumed when the capture takes place openly, with the person aware of it and not objecting although they could.

In practice, no signed form is needed. Inform the patient and simply ask whether that suits them. They must be able to decline without any effect on their care. The simplest way is a poster in your practice and a word at the first session. Our article on informing patients includes a template.

Protect health data

The content of a psychology session is health data, a special category under article 9 of the GDPR. You are the data controller. The tool provider processes the data on your behalf and must offer you a data processing agreement that complies with article 28 of the GDPR. The general obligations are summarised in our article on the GDPR for private practitioners.

Choose an HDS-certified host

Hosting health data on behalf of a practitioner requires HDS certification in France (article L1111-8 of the French Public Health Code). It is a simple way to rule out consumer tools. See what HDS-certified hosting means.

Respect professional confidentiality

Professional confidentiality (article 226-13 of the French Criminal Code) applies to everything you learn in session. Check who at the provider can access the data, in which cases and with what safeguards.

Good day-to-day practice

• Inform the patient at the first appointment, and remind them they can change their mind at any time.
• Note in the record that the patient was informed, and whether they declined.
• Review each report before validating it, especially names, dates and treatments.
• Keep your personal notes separate from the report.
• Set a retention period for your records and stick to it. See patient record retention periods.

Common mistakes

• Validating the report without reading it. A transcription error on a medication name or a date can end up in the record.
• Letting the tool decide. Suggestions from the AI remain suggestions. Analysis and decisions are yours.
• Forgetting a patient who declined. Note their choice in the record so you do not start the tool out of habit at the next session.
• Using a consumer tool. It offers neither certified health data hosting nor a data processing agreement.

How Delta applies these principles

Delta offers both modes, live note-taking during the session and dictation after it. A few moments after the session, Delta writes the report (short summary, detailed summary, topics to pick up at the next session), which you review and correct. It is added to the patient's record, which you can consult before each session.

Data stays in Europe, on infrastructure certified for health data (HDS), and AI processing runs on servers located in France. It is encrypted there. Before the AI writes anything, the patient's name and any information that could identify them are pseudonymised. No audio file is kept, and the data is never retained by the AI or used to train models. Delta also provides a poster and an information sheet for your patients. More details on the Delta for psychologists page.