Can I Dictate a Session Instead of Recording It?

3/19/2025

Did you know you don't have to record an actual therapy session to take advantage of MentalNote's powerful note generation capabilities? Many therapists are discovering our "dictation mode" as a time-saving alternative for creating comprehensive clinical documentation.

How Dictation Works

Instead of recording a live session with a client, you can simply dictate the relevant details into MentalNote after the session is complete. The application processes your dictation just like it would a real-time session, applying the same powerful AI analysis to generate a detailed clinical note.

This workflow has several advantages:

• Enhanced privacy - No risk of recording sensitive client information since you control exactly what information is included

• More control - Structure your dictation to highlight the most important clinical elements

• Same great results - The AI generates the same high-quality notes as it would from a recorded session

How to Use Dictation Mode

Using MentalNote for dictation is simple:

1. Open the Session screen and click "Start Session"

2. Reference the handy "Dictation Questions" button for prompts on what to include

3. Dictate the session's key elements, including presenting issues, interventions, and plans

4. Click "Stop Session" when finished

5. The transcript will be automatically redacted and saved to your desktop

6. Use this transcript in the Document Creator to generate your finished note

Privacy First, Always

Like all MentalNote features, dictation mode maintains our commitment to privacy. All processing happens locally on your device with zero data retention, and our multi-layered redaction system automatically removes identifying information.

Whether you're recording sessions or using dictation mode, MentalNote remains your HIPAA-compliant assistant, helping you create better documentation while spending more time focused on what matters most: your clients.