Upheal AI Notetaking for Therapists: Is It Worth It? 

As mental health professionals, balancing client care with administrative tasks can be challenging. As I discussed in my last blog post, it can be difficult to balance all of the hats we wear. Documentation often takes up more time than we'd like and takes us away from time with clients. This is where AI-powered note-taking tools like Upheal come in. But is it worth the investment? Here's my honest review after using Upheal in my practice for the past few months. 

Key Features of Upheal

Upheal offers real-time transcription of notes. During sessions, the app automatically transcribes conversations, allowing you to remain present. When the session is over, the app provides a note (SOAP, DAP, GIRP, BIRP, EMDR, Intake, or “Upheal Note”) saving you from manually documenting everything. If you’re a person who struggles with memory, it can also save you the task of remembering every detail from your sessions. It also offers customizable templates, letting you adjust the notes for your specific therapy style, whether it's CBT, DBT, or another approach. After the note is written, you can use the “smart edit” feature to extract important details, shorten the notes, or add more detail. 

Security is another major selling point for Upheal, as it emphasizes HIPAA compliance and client confidentiality through strong data encryption and security features. It should be noted that not every AI note-taking app is HIPPA compliant. If you’re trying out another product, please make sure it’s HIPPA-compliant! 

Why Upheal is Great for ADHDers (Like Me)

Not to be dramatic, but Upheal has been a game-changer for me in managing the executive functioning challenges that come with ADHD. One of the toughest parts of being a therapist with ADHD is staying on top of the constant mental load of administrative work, especially when it comes to notetaking. The real-time transcription helps offload some of that burden, ensuring that nothing is missed in the session without relying on memory or scrambling to take notes. For other ADHD therapists, this could be a lifesaver—streamlining documentation and leaving more time for client care or much-needed breaks.

Pros of Using Upheal

The biggest advantage of Upheal [for me] is the time saved. With notes generated automatically, you can focus more on your clients during sessions and less on paperwork afterward. The app allows you to be more present with clients, as you don’t need to worry about writing down every detail during the session.

If you’re like me, maybe you struggle to describe the clinical interventions that you use during sessions. You also know how important this is if you accept insurance. I know that I used evidence-based modalities, but describing “why” and “how” is another story. Upheal reduces some of this stress by providing details of how I use several interventions throughout the session. 

Support. Their support team is phenomenal, and I’m not exaggerating here. I had the opportunity to meet with the creator of UpHeal, Juraj. We had a 1-1 meeting via Zoom, and he answered all my questions and addressed my concerns. He was also open to my feedback about the note style and was excited to hear my ideas for new features. When I was first learning the system and had challenges, the team was quick to resolve my concerns. As they continue to add features and update the program, I haven’t needed to contact the support team. 

Cons of Upheal

Like any app or program, Upheal has its downsides. Transcriptions aren't always accurate, especially with complex terminology or overlapping speech. Manual edits are sometimes needed. For ADHDers, this could be a bit frustrating since the point of using the app is to reduce cognitive load, not add more to it.

Another concern may be the cost. If you’re just starting out or trying to keep your overhead as low as possible, it might not be the best option for you. If you’re not managing a high caseload, you might wonder whether the time saved justifies the subscription fee. 

Is Upheal Worth It for ADHDers?

Ultimately, whether Upheal is worth it depends on your needs. For ADHD therapists like myself, it could be a real lifesaver. The time saved on note-taking, reduced mental load, and ability to stay more present in sessions make it worth it to me. If you’re handling a large caseload and feel overwhelmed by documentation, this app could make a huge difference. The potential to reduce admin fatigue is a compelling reason to give it a try, which you can do for free. You can use this link to try it out: https://upheal.io/join?via=YW9FKK68

Final Thoughts

Upheal has the potential to save therapists—especially ADHDers—valuable time and mental energy, allowing for more focus on clients and less on documentation. While transcription accuracy and cost are worth considering, the benefits certainly outweigh the cost for me. If you’re looking to streamline your admin tasks, Upheal could be exactly what you need.