If your case notes were subpoenaed tomorrow, would you feel confident?
Case notes are not just a record of what happened in session. They shape how your work is understood — by supervisors, organisations, and sometimes legal processes. Yet many practitioners are taught to write notes that rely heavily on interpretation, diagnosis, or justification.
There is another way.
Drawing on a decade of experience running a family therapy clinic, where case notes were routinely subpoenaed, this webinar will cover a practical, client-centred approach to documentation. One that stays close to the client's own words, avoids unnecessary clinical assumptions, and produces notes that are clear, grounded, and professionally robust.
The focus will not be on writing more, but about writing differently.
What the webinar will cover:
You'll be guided through a clear and practical framework for writing case notes that:
- accurately reflect the session without overinterpretation
- prioritise the client's language and meaning-making
- reduce reliance on diagnostic or assessment-heavy framing
- remain useful for continuity of care while being mindful of external scrutiny
The session will also explore common pitfalls in case noting, including:
- over-documenting or including unnecessary detail
- writing in ways that require later justification
- unintentionally positioning the practitioner as the expert
Learning outcomes:
By the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
- write concise, focused case notes grounded in client language
- distinguish between observation, inference, and interpretation
- apply a simple structure to improve clarity and consistency
- identify and avoid common documentation risks
- feel more confident that your notes accurately represent your clients' stories
Who is this event for?
This session is designed for counsellors and psychotherapists in private practice or organisations, early-career practitioners wanting clear guidance on note-writing, experienced clinicians looking to refine or simplify their documentation, and students preparing to enter practice.
Event Details
Date: Thursday 6 August 2026
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm (AEST)
Location: Online via Zoom
Please check your time zone to avoid disappointment
Recording provided to all registrants
Presenter: Adrian Holmes
Adrian Holmes is a counsellor, academic and mental health policy expert based in Brisbane, Australia. Adrian has been working in the human services field for two decades and has completed PhD research on mental health and social policy in Australia and overseas. Adrian ran a family counselling clinic with a team of up to 15 counsellors for over 10 years. He also wrote a book entitled Tools for Hard Conversations in the Helping Professions in 2020. It is now the preferred textbook for a number of university courses and has become a valued resource for human services professionals who want to work in helpful ways outside of the dominant medical model.
* Please note that presenter bios are prepared by the presenters and are shared as provided without modification.
They reflect each presenter's own professional journey and perspective.
CPD
Attending this webinar counts as 2 hours of Category A CPD (Continuing Professional Development). Watching a recording of this webinar, which will be provided to registrants, can be used towards 2 hours of Category B CPD.
You must attend 75% of a webinar to receive a CPD certificate for Category A CPD.
Ticket Prices
PACFA Members: $35.00 + GST ($38.50)
Student Members: $25.00 + GST ($27.50)
Non-Members: $50.00 + GST ($55.00)
What to Expect After You Register
Once registered, your personal Zoom link will be dispatched directly to you via email from Zoom within 1 hour of registration and 1 hour prior to the event. Please keep an eye on your inbox for an email from Zoom ([email protected]). All future correspondence pertaining to this event, including event recordings, will be communicated through the PACFA email address ([email protected]). To ensure a seamless experience, we recommend adding both email addresses to your safe sender list to prevent missed communications.
Alternatively, you can find the Zoom link if you log into your account under the "My events" tab.
Event Cancellations
Customers seeking to cancel their registration more than 5 working days (for courses) and 48 hours (for webinars) prior to the event date may request a credit to be applied to their account. Cancellations must be made in writing to [email protected]. Cancellations made with less notice than this are non-refundable or exchangeable. Credits are valid for up to a year from the purchase date. This policy is at PACFA's discretion and may change.