Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Note

Completed note

Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Consult Note

Patient Identification: An adult patient presents for support with worry and disrupted sleep.

History of Present Illness:
The patient reports frequent worry over recent months, especially before work responsibilities, with difficulty falling asleep several nights per week. Symptoms interfere with concentration but the patient continues usual activities. Taking a short walk and writing a task list sometimes helps. The patient wants to manage worry and improve sleep. No acute precipitating event was identified.

Past Psychiatric History:
- No prior psychiatric hospitalization reported.
- No self-harm history reported.
- No previous structured CBT.

Past Medical History:
- No relevant chronic condition reported.

Medications:
- No regular medication reported.

Allergies:
- No known drug allergies reported.

Family Psychiatric History:
- No known family psychiatric history reported.

Social History:
- Lives with supportive household members; employed. No substance concerns reported.

Mental Status Examination:
- Well-groomed and cooperative. Mood described as worried; affect appropriate. Speech and thought process are organized. No perceptual disturbance reported. Alert and attentive, with intact insight and judgment. Denies thoughts of self-harm or harming others.

Assessment:
- Anxiety symptoms with sleep disruption; an anxiety disorder is possible, with stress-related worry also in the differential.

Plan:
- Begin CBT formulation and identify worry-related thoughts and behaviors.
- Practice a brief thought record and consistent wind-down routine before next session.
- Reviewed that worsening distress or safety concerns warrant prompt support. Plan weekly sessions initially and reassess.

Illustrative case with invented patient details. This is not a real patient record or clinical guidance. Review each note against your own consultation.

Clinical facts behind the note

Reusable template structure

Cognitive Behavioural Therapist Consult Note

Patient Identification: [Patient name, age, gender, relevant background, presenting concern]

History of Present Illness:
[Description of presenting symptoms, onset, duration, frequency, severity, and impact on functioning]
[Relevant stressors, triggers, or precipitating events]
[Previous coping strategies and their effectiveness]
[Motivation and goals for therapy]

Past Psychiatric History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Previous psychiatric diagnoses]
- [Prior hospitalizations or treatments]
- [History of self-harm or suicidality]
- [Previous therapy modalities and response]

Past Medical History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Relevant medical conditions]
- [Chronic illnesses]
- [Surgical history]

Medications:
(hyphenated list)
- [Medication name, dose, route, frequency]
- [Psychotropic and non-psychotropic medications]

Allergies:
(hyphenated list)
- [Drug, food, or environmental allergies]
- [No known drug allergies (NKDA) if applicable]

Family Psychiatric History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Relative: Psychiatric diagnosis or relevant history]
- [Suicide or self-harm in family]

Social History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Living situation: who lives with patient, home environment]
- [Relationship status and supports]
- [Occupation, education, financial stressors]
- [Substance use: type, amount, frequency]
- [Legal issues or involvement]

Mental Status Examination:
(hyphenated list)
- [Appearance and behaviour]
- [Mood and affect]
- [Speech and language]
- [Thought process and content]
- [Perceptions]
- [Cognition: orientation, attention, memory]
- [Insight and judgement]
- [Risk assessment: suicidality, self-harm, harm to others]

Assessment:
(hyphenated list)
- [Primary psychiatric diagnosis or presenting problem]
- [Contributing factors and formulation]
- [Differential diagnosis if relevant]

Plan:
(hyphenated list)
- [CBT treatment goals]
- [Interventions planned (e.g., cognitive restructuring, behavioural activation, exposure exercises)]
- [Homework assignments]
- [Psychoeducation provided]
- [Safety planning if indicated]
- [Referrals to other providers if needed]
- [Frequency and duration of sessions]
- [Follow up plan]
- [Return precautions]