Session notes are the objective record of what happened during a session: what was targeted, what data was collected, and anything relevant that occurred. They should be factual and written soon after the session, not interpreted or opinionated.
Example
Instead of writing ‘client had a rough session,’ an objective note reads: ‘Client engaged in 4 instances of elopement during table time; redirected each time using the planned prompt.’
Key points
- Objective, not interpretive: describe what was observed, not conclusions about why it happened.
- Include the basics: date, time, duration, targets addressed, data summary, and anything unusual.
- Write it promptly: notes written right after the session are more accurate than ones written hours later.
- Note anything unexpected: illness, changes in routine, or other variables that could affect behavior should be documented.
Common mistake
Writing vague summaries like ‘good session’ instead of specific, data-based observations a supervisor can actually use.
Quick check
Which is a better session note: ‘Client was difficult today’ or ‘Client refused 3 of 10 presented tasks; each refusal followed by a 2-minute break per protocol’? The second, because it’s objective and specific.
Keep studying
Incident reports in ABA · Communicating with your BCBA · ABC data
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