Which term describes reporting what occurs during therapy sessions using objective language and observable behaviors without infusing perceived intentions and emotions?

• A. Objective Sessions Notes
• B. Subjective Notes
• C. Narrative Notes
• D. Anecdotal Notes

Answer: (A)

When documenting therapy sessions, you describe exactly what happened using observable, measurable language. Objective session notes capture the behaviors that can be seen and quantified—things like how many times a behavior occurred, how long a task took, what prompts were used, and the client’s actual responses—without inferring what the client is thinking or feeling. This neutrality keeps data reliable and makes it easier for other team members to review and replicate the observations, track progress, and make informed decisions.

Subjective notes include the clinician’s impressions, feelings, or interpretations about the client’s internal states. Anecdotal or narrative notes can describe events but may blend observation with interpretation or storytelling, which can introduce bias. Keeping to objective session notes is the best fit for reporting therapy events in a clear, data-driven way.