Using System Forms
System Forms include the core intake, consent, and assessment documents that help support clear communication and informed care within Sessions Health. This guide explains how to access these forms and add them to your account for use in your practice.
In this article:
- Video Tutorial: Adding and Editing System Forms
- Understanding Types of Forms
- Adding System Templates
- Adding Consent Form Templates
- Using Screening & Assessment Tools
- Managing Intake Form Settings
- Accessing Note Templates
- Using Questionnaires & Session Bridging Forms
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Resources
Video Tutorial: Adding and Editing System Forms
A quick overview of how to preview, add, and customize the built‑in forms in Sessions Health.
Understanding Types of Forms
System Forms in Sessions Health fall into the following categories:
| Form Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Consent Forms | Used to obtain written authorization and inform clients about treatment policies and expectations. |
| Screenings & Assessments | Standardized tools used to evaluate symptoms, track progress, and support clinical decision-making. Some assessments include automatic scoring. |
| Intake Forms | Collect background and onboarding information at the start of care. Can be designated as required during client onboarding. |
| Notes | Used to document session content and clinical observations. |
| Questionnaires | Gather client feedback or support session bridging between appointments. |
⚠️ Compliance Reminder: Requirements vary by state and specialty. Take a moment to review each template to ensure it aligns with your practice’s needs before sending it to clients.
Adding System Templates
Sessions Health provides a library of default assessments, intake forms, progress notes, and questionnaires. These can be quickly added to your available forms and can optionally be customized once added.
To add a System Template:
- Go to Forms & Documents > Forms.
- Choose the System Templates tab.
- Select +Add to add the form to your My Forms library.
👀 You can select the eye icon to open a read-only preview of the selected form.
📝 After adding a System Template, you can customize it for your practice. See our article Creating a Custom Form for more information.
Adding Consent Form Templates
Sessions Health provides pre-written consent templates that you can quickly add and customize for your practice.
How to Add a System Consent Template
- Go to Forms & Documents > My Forms.
- In the Consent section, select + Add.
- From the dropdown menu, choose a pre-written template.
- Review or edit the text to match your practice's policies, then select Save.
🖊️ You can select Needs Countersignature if a practitioner must sign the document after the client submits it.
Using Screening & Assessment Tools
Clinical assessments (such as the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and C-SSRS) help measure symptoms and track client progress over time. Unlike one-time intake paperwork, assessments can be re-sent to clients as often as needed throughout treatment.
📉 Many system assessments are auto-scored, allowing practitioners to easily track progress over time on client charts. See our article on Auto-Scored Assessments for more information.
👤 Supervision Review: If an assessment requires supervisor review, open the assessment in My Forms, select Settings, and check Requires Supervision. For step-by-step instructions, see our guide Supervision: Assessments.
Spanish System Templates
Sessions Health offers Spanish versions of select clinical assessment tools to support more accessible and inclusive care. For a walkthrough of Spanish System Templates, see our video tutorial, Spanish System Forms.
- Filter by language: Choose Español to view all available Spanish forms.
- Search by keyword: Enter Spanish in the search bar to bring up the full list.
🇪🇸 Spanish system forms follow the same scoring, documentation, and sharing workflows as their English counterparts.
Managing Intake Form Settings
Each intake form has settings that control how it’s assigned, whether it's required, and if it needs a signature from your practice.
How to Edit Intake Form Settings
- Go to Forms & Documents > My Forms and scroll to Intake.
- Select the form you want to configure, then choose Settings.
- Check or uncheck your desired settings, then select Save.
Form Settings
| Setting | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Automatically assign this intake form to new clients | Automatically sends this form to every new client invited to the portal unless overridden when inviting the client. |
| Required | Blocks clients from finishing portal onboarding until this form is submitted. |
| Needs Countersignature | Requires a practitioner or admin signature after the client completes the form. |
💡 Client Portal Experience: To see how required forms appear to your clients during onboarding, see our article For Clients: Client Intake Overview.
Accessing Note Templates
You can access a range of pre-built note templates from the System Templates library. These templates are used when writing progress notes and clinical notes, and can be customized after being added to My Forms.
🧩 Looking for play-based templates? You can enable pre-built templates for Play Therapy and Sandtray (Adult & Child) under Forms & Documents > Forms > System Templates.
Available system note templates include:
- BIRP Note
- Client Progress Note
- DAP Note
- Discharge/Termination of Services
- EMDR Progress Note
- Group Therapy Progress Note
- Play Therapy Progress Note
- Sandtray Progress Note: Adult
- Sandtray Progress Note: Child
- SOAP Note
💡 For more information, see our articles on Creating Progress Notes and Creating Non‑Session Notes.
Using Questionnaires & Session Bridging Forms
Questionnaires are specialized forms used after onboarding to check in on client progress, collect satisfaction surveys, or perform session bridging between appointments.
💡 To learn how to assign questionnaires and set up automated check-ins between appointments, see our guide on Session Bridging (Session Feedback).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you have a Release of Information (ROI) form?
Yes. A Release of Information form is available under System Templates > Intake. Because ROI requirements vary by state, review the form to ensure it meets local regulations. If needed, you may create a Custom Form.
Can I edit System Templates?
Yes. After adding a System Template to My Forms, you can edit it to meet your practice’s needs. Any changes you make apply to your version of the form in your account. The original form remains unchanged in the System Template library.
What happens if I change a form setting while a client is currently onboarding?
Changes happen right away. If you update a form while a client is onboarding, they'll see the change as soon as they refresh their page or go back to the forms step.
Are System Forms compliant?
Yes. Forms that collect Protected Health Information (PHI) are securely stored within Sessions Health to maintain HIPAA compliance.
Will additional System Templates be added in the future?
Yes. We periodically review and expand our forms library. When new forms become available, they will be available in your System Templates.
Related Resources
For more information, see these Help Center articles:
- Creating a Custom Form
- Auto-Scored Assessments
- Creating Progress Notes
- Session Bridging (Session Feedback)
For more related videos, check out this video tutorial library: Forms, Documents, Notes, and Treatment Plans Video Tutorials.