The four categories of AI tools for therapists
Documentation
Generate or transcribe session notes from audio recordings or voice input. Most require a BAA and explicit HIPAA compliance. Examples: Nabla, Heidi Health, Upheal.
Session briefing
Extract structured summaries from notes you have already written, creating a briefing card to review before the next session. Designed for preparation, not documentation.
Scheduling & admin
Automate appointment booking, reminders, billing, and insurance verification. Many are long-established EHR features now being enhanced with AI.
Client-facing
Between-session apps for mood tracking, journaling, exercises, or crisis support. These interact directly with clients and have distinct compliance requirements.
Documentation tools: what to know
AI documentation tools are the most widely discussed category. They listen to or read session content and generate structured notes — SOAP, DAP, or custom formats. The appeal is obvious: reducing post-session documentation time from 20-30 minutes to 5 minutes or less.
The compliance question is non-negotiable here. These tools process session audio or content directly, which means they are handling PHI. Before using any documentation tool:
- Confirm the vendor will sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)
- Understand where session audio and generated notes are stored
- Know the data retention and deletion policy
- Confirm the tool does not use session content to train its models
Important: AI-generated session notes require clinician review before being added to the clinical record. The practitioner is always responsible for the accuracy and clinical appropriateness of any documentation — AI output is a draft, not a final note.
Session briefing tools: a different use case
Session briefing tools sit upstream of documentation. Rather than generating notes, they process notes you have already written and extract a structured summary — presenting concerns, mood patterns, key themes, recent progress — into a briefing card you review before the next session.
This is a fundamentally different privacy profile. The best briefing tools are designed so that:
- Session notes are processed transiently and never stored as raw text
- Only the practitioner-approved briefing card is saved
- No real client names or identifying information are required
Cultivar is built specifically for this workflow. It is not HIPAA compliant and is explicit about this — users should not enter PHI. Instead, profiles use opaque identifiers, and the tool functions as a clinical memory aid rather than a documentation system.
What to ask before adopting any AI tool
- What data does this tool store, and where?
- Does it require a Business Associate Agreement (BAA)?
- Is the tool HIPAA compliant? If not, what are the stated limitations?
- Can I review and correct AI output before it is saved?
- Does the tool use my input data to train its models?
- What is the data deletion policy if I cancel?
- Who has access to the data I enter?
- Does it integrate with my existing EHR or practice management system?
The privacy spectrum
AI tools for mental health practitioners exist on a spectrum from full HIPAA compliance (with BAA, encrypted storage, audit logs) to explicit non-compliance (lightweight tools that require users to avoid PHI entirely). Neither end of the spectrum is inherently wrong — but practitioners need to understand where a tool sits before using it, and structure their workflow accordingly.
A session briefing tool that operates without PHI and a documentation tool that signs a BAA serve different needs and carry different responsibilities. The mistake is assuming all "AI tools for therapists" are equivalent.
Common questions
What AI tools are available for therapists?
AI tools for therapists fall into four main categories: documentation tools (note generation from session audio), session briefing tools (structured summaries from existing notes), scheduling and admin tools, and client-facing apps. Each category has different privacy requirements and compliance considerations.
Are AI tools for therapists HIPAA compliant?
Compliance varies significantly by tool. Tools that store or process protected health information (PHI) must sign a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). Some tools are explicitly not HIPAA compliant and require users to avoid entering PHI. Always check a tool's privacy policy and compliance posture before use.
What should therapists look for when choosing an AI tool?
Evaluate data storage (what is stored and where), PHI handling (BAA required?), clinician control (can you review AI output before it saves?), transparency (what does the AI do with your input?), and compliance posture (is the tool explicit about what it does and does not comply with?).
Can AI write therapy session notes?
Yes — AI documentation tools can generate structured session notes from transcripts or voice recordings. These require HIPAA-compliant handling and must be reviewed by the clinician before being added to the clinical record. The practitioner remains responsible for the accuracy of all documentation.