PESP session note template and example
A blank visit-note structure plus a filled-in example with a fictional client.
A good session note is short, factual, and useful to you at the next visit. The PESP framework — physical, emotional, spiritual, practical — gives each note the same shape, so changes over time are easy to see.
Below is a blank structure and an example written for a fictional client. The example shows the level of detail that is usually enough.
Blank template
Visit details
- Date, time, and length
- Location and who was present
- Visit type (in person, phone, video)
Physical
- Comfort and symptoms you observed or were told about
- Changes since the last visit
- Anything to pass on to the care team
Emotional
- Mood and emotional state
- Worries or fears raised
- Family dynamics that came up
Spiritual
- Meaning, faith, or legacy topics discussed
- Rituals or practices requested
Practical
- Paperwork, planning, or logistics discussed
- Advance directive or funeral planning updates
Next steps
- Follow-ups for you
- Follow-ups for the family
- Next visit date
Example note (fictional client)
Visit details
- Tuesday, 10:00–11:30 a.m., client's home
- Present: Hazel (client) and her daughter Ruth
- In-person visit
Physical
- Hazel stayed in bed for most of the visit and said she felt "heavier" today
- Ruth says appetite has dropped to a few bites at meals
- Suggested Ruth mention the appetite change to the hospice nurse on Thursday
Emotional
- Hazel was calm but tearful when talking about her garden
- Said, "I'm not scared of dying, I'm scared of being a bother"
- Ruth is tired; her brother has not visited yet
Spiritual
- Hazel wants to record a message for her grandchildren
- Asked for her favorite hymn to be played near the end
Practical
- Advance directive is signed; the copy is on the fridge
- Funeral home not chosen yet — Ruth wants a list of options
Next steps
- Bring a recorder for the legacy message
- Send Ruth three local funeral home options
- Next visit: Friday morning
What makes a note useful later
- Write it within the day. Details fade quickly after an emotional visit.
- Observe, don't diagnose. "Breathing seemed faster than last week" — not a clinical assessment.
- Quote the client. Their own words often matter most at the next visit.
- End with next steps. One or two follow-ups are easier to act on than a long list.
Write PESP notes inside your practice
Liminal Desk gives every session note separate PESP fields, reusable note templates, copy-from-last-session, and drafts that survive interruptions. Notes stay private to your practice. The free plan supports one active client.