Initial Assessment Template for Psychologists (plus Session Note Template)

A high-quality intake is the foundation of good clinical work. The challenge is that initial assessments can quickly become messy: you are holding multiple threads, taking notes in real time, trying to capture risk information, and still aiming to leave the client feeling understood. Without a consistent framework, documentation can become incomplete, inconsistent, or hard to defend later—especially when you are working under time pressure.

This template solves that by giving you a structured intake scaffold you can reuse across clients. It includes key domains (presenting issue, history areas, MSE, risk prompts, and assessment fields) as well as a clear formulation structure so you can translate information into a coherent clinical picture. It also includes a concise session note template to support consistent ongoing documentation.

Download it below if you want a practical, clinic-ready structure that improves your confidence, your notes, and your ability to plan treatment from the first appointment. Download here