Software for therapists: how to choose

A therapist in private practice handles four things alongside sessions. Scheduling, invoices, notes for each session and tracking the work with each patient. Few tools do all of it well. It helps to know what you need before choosing.

The four needs of a therapy practice

• Scheduling. Regular sessions, online booking, reminders.
• Invoices. A clear invoice for each session, which the patient can send to their insurer when it covers therapy. See our article on what an invoice must include.
• Session notes. What was said, what was worked on, what to pick up next. See our session notes template.
• Tracking the work. Exercises given, topics worked on, measures you follow, from one session to the next.

How to choose

1. Where the data is hosted

Your patients confide very personal things. This is health data under the GDPR. Choose a tool whose host is certified for health data. In France, that is HDS. See our article on HDS hosting.

2. Time saved on notes

Check whether the tool actually helps you write your notes, or only stores what you typed. A tool that takes notes during the session leaves you fully available to the patient.

3. Preparing the next session

Before each session, you need to know where you are. A good tool reminds you what was worked on and what to pick up.

4. Devices

In the practice or by video, check that the tool works on computer, tablet and phone.

5. The contract

You remain responsible for your patients' data. Under the GDPR, you need a data processing agreement with the provider (article 28). Also check that your data is not used to train models.

Questions to ask before you commit

• Where is the data hosted, and is the host certified for health data?
• Is my data used to train models?
• Does the tool take my approach into account?
• Can I get my records back if I stop?
• Can I try it without commitment?

How Delta works

Delta is an AI assistant designed with therapists. During the session, Delta transcribes what is said, then writes the session report, taking your specialty and therapeutic approach into account. You can also dictate your observations right after the session. The report is added to the patient's record, with topics to pick up at the next session. You keep track of the work from one session to the next.

Data stays in Europe, on infrastructure certified for health data (HDS), and AI processing runs on servers located in France. The patient's name and any information that could identify them are pseudonymised before reaching the AI, no audio file is kept, and the data is never used to train models. Delta works on computer, tablet and phone. More details on the Delta for therapists page.