SIMPLE Note Example: Internal Family Systems (IFS)

Quill generated this note with AI from the summary that was provided. The therapist can then copy-and-paste the note into their current EHR platform.

The session was a 60-minute office visit. Client appeared frustrated and reported a pattern of explosive reactions during conflict, followed by feelings of regret. Client stated, "It's like I'm not even in control when it happens." Client described an intense angry part, referred to as the "protector," which emerges when feeling criticized or attacked and takes over. Exploration revealed that the protector part is attempting to keep the client safe, having learned long ago that anger was a defense mechanism. Further discussion uncovered a younger, exiled part beneath the anger, carrying shame from childhood experiences of being bullied. Therapist guided client in unblending from the protector, connecting with Self energy, and practicing communication between Self, the protector, and the younger part. The protector expressed concern about stepping back, fearing harm to the client, and was reassured that the Self could manage. By session's end, client reported relief and reduced internal conflict between parts. Homework assigned: notice when the protector arises and check in with it from Self, asking what it needs. Next session scheduled for next week to continue building internal trust.

Client Session Summary:

Here's the summary of this client session. Remember, Quill does not record the client session. A therapist would provide a summary (like the one below) after the session is over, and then Quill would generate a note similar to the one above.

We had a 60-minute office session today. Marcus came in looking pretty frustrated and said he's been noticing this pattern where he just explodes during conflict, and afterward he feels terrible about it. He said quote 'It's like I'm not even in control when it happens' unquote. We started exploring what was coming up for him in those moments, and he described this really intense angry part that he calls his 'protector.' It shows up whenever he feels criticized or attacked, and it just takes over.

We spent some time getting curious about that protector part, what it's trying to do for him. Marcus realized that it's actually trying to keep him safe, like it learned a long time ago that anger was the best defense. As we dug deeper, he started noticing a younger part underneath all that anger, a part that carries a lot of shame from when he was a kid and got bullied pretty badly. That younger part, the exiled part, has been buried under the protector's anger for years.

We worked on unblending from the angry protector, helping Marcus step back and notice it without being completely taken over by it. I guided him through connecting with his Self energy, that calmer, more grounded part of him, and we practiced having his Self talk to both the protector and the younger part. The protector was really worried that if it stepped back, Marcus would get hurt, so we reassured it that the Self could handle things now. By the end of the session, Marcus said he felt this sense of relief, like these parts weren't fighting each other as much. His homework is to notice when the protector shows up this week and try to check in with it from Self, just asking what it needs. We'll meet again next week to see how it goes and keep building that internal trust.

Other Note Formats:

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More About SIMPLE Notes:

From even more examples, to an overview of the format in general, to templates, to a cheat sheet, here's everything you need to know about SIMPLE notes.