Creating a Custom Form

Custom forms in Sessions Health help you collect the information your practice needs and support your documentation workflows. You can build a form from scratch or start with a System Form and customize it to fit your preferences.

ℹ️ Form creation and editing are limited to account members with Administrator access.

ℹ️ All of our system forms are customizable, with the exception of the default treatment plan.

In this article:

Video Tutorial: Building Custom Forms
Creating a New Custom Form
Adding and Editing Fields
Choosing Form Elements
Understanding Consent Forms
Managing a Form
Using Your Forms in Daily Workflows
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Resources

Video Tutorial: Building Custom Forms

This tutorial teaches you how to create your own custom forms.

Creating a New Custom Form

You can create a form in two ways:

Build a form from scratch
Start with a System Form and customize it to match your workflow

💡Cloning a System Form is often the fastest way to begin, since it gives you a starting point with common fields already in place.

To create a new form:

Go to Forms and Documents > Forms > My Forms.
Select Add next to the type of form you want to create.
Enter a name for your form.
Select Save to open the form builder.
Begin adding fields or, if you cloned a System Form, adjust the existing fields to meet your needs.

Each form type supports different workflows in Sessions Health.

Consent Forms: These forms always include a signature prompt and can be shared when inviting clients to the portal.
Screenings and Assessments: These support all field types except signatures. They appear under Clients > [Client Name] > Assessments. You can clone an assessment into the Intake section if you want to include it in portal invitations.
Intake Forms: These support all field types and can be automatically assigned to new clients.
Notes: These support all field types except signatures. Custom note templates appear as options when writing a session note.
Questionnaires: These support all field types and can be sent from the form’s Submissions tab or used as a session bridge.
Treatment Plans: These can be built with or without integrated goals, objectives, and interventions. Custom templates appear when creating a new treatment plan in a client’s Diagnosis and Treatment tab.

Adding and Editing Fields

Once your form is created, you can begin adding fields.

Select Add Element to insert a new field.
Enter a label, optional instructions, and choose whether the field is required.
To edit a field, select the three dots next to it and choose Edit.
To reorder fields, drag and drop them into place.

Choosing Form Elements

You can use any combination of the following elements when building a form.

Standard Text Input: A single-line or multiline text field. Rich text is available for multiline fields. When rich text is enabled, clients can format their responses with bold, italics, lists, and links.
Date Field: Captures a date.
Numeric Field: Accepts numbers only.
Yes or No Answer: A simple yes or no selection.
Single Choice: Select one option from a list.
Multiple Choice: Select more than one option.
Dropdown: Select one option from a dropdown list.
Likert Scale: Rate statements using a defined scale. Optionally import common measurements.
Range Slider: Choose a value along a range.
File Upload: Upload images or documents.
Electronic Signature: Available on Intake forms and questionnaires. Consent forms and assessments include built-in signature prompts.
Field Group: A repeatable set of fields, such as multiple contacts. You can set minimum or maximum repetitions.
Section Header: Adds a labeled section break.
Divider: Adds a visual separator.
Rich Content: Displays formatted text within the form.

💡 Some elements allow clients to add clarification, including Single Choice and Multiple Choice.

Consent forms have a few unique behaviors in Sessions Health.

Three dots menu location

For consent forms, the three dots appear directly on the My Forms page. You can use this menu to edit, print, archive, or permanently remove the form. For all other form types, select the form to open it and access the three dots in the upper-right corner of the editor.

Built-in client signature

Consent forms always include a signature prompt for clients. You do not need to add an Electronic Signature element.

Clinician countersignature

If your state requires both client and clinician signatures, you can enable the countersignature option in Edit Settings. When a client completes a form that requires your signature, a notice will appear on your Home screen, allowing you to review and sign it.

Managing a Form

To manage an existing form, select the form from My Forms to open the form editor.

In the upper right corner, select the three dots to access the following options:

Preview: See how the form will appear to clients.
Print: Generate a PDF version of the form.
Clone: Create a copy of the form. Cloning is helpful when you want to start from a System Form or move a form to another section, such as turning an assessment into an intake form.
Archive: Hide the form from use. You can restore it later from the Archived section.
Permanently Remove: Delete the form from your account. This action cannot be undone.

To edit the name of a form:

Open the form.
Select the three dots in the upper right corner.
Choose Edit Settings.
Update the form name.

Using Your Forms in Daily Workflows

Using a Custom Note in a Session

Once you create a custom note template, it becomes available when you document a session. Open the session, go to the Notes tab, and choose your template from the Note Type dropdown.

Notes section showing a Custom Note selected.

Sending a Questionnaire

You can send any custom form as a questionnaire to one or more clients. Clients will receive the form in their portal and can complete it online.

You can review this article and video for more details: Session Bridging (Session Feedback).

Manually Sending Forms to Clients

If a client needs a form that is not part of your portal defaults, you can add it to their profile manually. For full steps, see Sharing Forms Through the Client Portal.

About PDFs and E‑Signatures

You can upload PDFs to share with clients, but PDFs cannot be signed electronically in Sessions Health. Clients would need to print and scan them. If you want clients to complete and sign something online, building the form in Sessions Health is the best option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I rearrange questions or choices on a form?

Yes. You can drag and drop fields to change their order. Within certain elements, such as Multiple Choice or Dropdown, you can also reorder the options.

Can I change the order of my forms in My Forms?

Yes. In Forms and Documents > My Forms, you can drag and drop forms to set the order they appear in your list.

Can clients resume a form later if they do not finish it in one sitting?

Yes. Responses save automatically as clients type, so they can return and complete the form later without losing their progress.

Why can't my client select Save at the end of a form?

This usually means a required field is incomplete. Required fields are marked with an asterisk. Once all required fields are filled out, the client will be able to save and submit.

Do I need to add an Electronic Signature element to every form?

No. Consent forms and assessments include built-in signature prompts. You can add an Electronic Signature element to Intake forms and questionnaires when you want clients to sign those forms as well.

How do I share a form with a client?

Please see Sharing Forms & Documents Through the Client Portal for information on sharing forms.

If I clone a System Form, will changes to the clone affect the original?

When you clone a System Form, the new custom form is separate. Changes you make to the cloned version do not change the original System Form.

Here are a few resources that can help you work with forms throughout Sessions Health: