Intake assessment
The concerns, history, and diagnoses that explain why the client is in therapy.
Golden Thread Documentation for Therapists
Save a client’s intake and treatment plan once. Apollo writes every progress note with their goals in mind, so each note connects back to the plan.
After each session, see what moved toward the goals, what got in the way, and what’s missing before you sign.
What is the golden thread?
It’s the link that runs through a client’s record. The intake explains why they came, the treatment plan sets the goals, and each progress note shows the work done toward them. Insurers look for that link when they review your notes.
Treatment plan
The goals you’re working toward together, and the interventions you’ll use to get there.
Progress notes
What happened in each session, and how it moved the client toward their goals.
Set it up once. Every note follows.
Add a client’s intake, treatment plan, and any instructions to their profile. When you write a note for that client, Apollo uses all three, so the note reflects their goals without you copying them in.
Paste in an intake or treatment plan you already have
Or dictate one, and Apollo drafts it for you
Add instructions for this client, such as the name they use
Update the plan when goals change, and new notes follow it
Sam R.
Intake assessment
Panic attacks at work, poor sleep, avoiding the office.
Treatment plan
Fewer panic attacks. Sleep 6+ hours most nights. Back to the office 3 days a week.
Instructions for this client
Use "Sam". Note any change in sleep.
See progress after every session.
When a note is done, Apollo lists the progress toward goals, the challenges, any risks, the plan for next time, and the homework. Each one goes on the client’s Recent Progress timeline, so you can see how things are moving across their recent sessions.
Filter the timeline by goals, challenges, homework, risks, or plans
Open any entry to go straight to its note
Session summary
Progress toward goals
Slept 6+ hours on 4 of 7 nights, up from 2.
Challenges
Two panic attacks at work, both before team meetings.
Homework
Paced breathing before Thursday’s team meeting.
Next session
Review how the meeting went.
Catch the gaps before you sign.
Apollo checks every note for medical necessity, risk assessment, interventions used, and progress toward goals. If one is missing, you’ll see it while there’s still time to add it.
Ask where the thread is thin.
Before a treatment plan review, or any time you want the whole picture, ask Apollo. It compares the intake and treatment plan with your saved notes, and shows you the sources.
See which goals haven’t come up lately
Check that the plan covers each concern from the intake
See how a session fits the plan
Find what the notes say about progress on a goal
Apollo tells you what the notes show and what’s missing. Whether a goal is met is your call.
Ask Apollo
Client: Sam
Which goals haven’t come up this month?
One goal hasn’t come up: back to the office 3 days a week. It was last discussed 5 weeks ago.
Panic attacks and sleep came up in every session.
Sources · Treatment plan, 4 notes
Does the plan cover everything from the intake?
Yes. Each concern in the intake has a goal:
Panic attacks at work: fewer panic attacks.
Poor sleep: 6+ hours most nights.
Avoiding the office: back 3 days a week.
Sources · Intake, treatment plan
How did the last session fit the plan?
It worked on two goals. Paced breathing targeted the panic attacks, and you reviewed Sam’s sleep. The office goal didn’t come up.
Sources · Treatment plan, 1 note
What shows progress on sleep?
Sleep is improving. Sam reported 6+ hours on 4 of 7 nights last week, up from 2.
This is what Sam reported. The notes don’t include a sleep measure.
Sources · 3 notes
Questions about the golden thread
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It’s the link between a client’s intake assessment, their treatment plan, and each progress note. The intake identifies the concerns, the plan sets goals for them, and each note shows the work done toward those goals. Insurers and auditors look for this link to see that treatment is necessary and on track.
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Save a client’s intake and treatment plan in Apollo once. Every note you write for that client uses them, so it reflects their goals. Apollo then checks the note for progress toward goals and the other things insurers look for, and adds the session to the client’s Recent Progress timeline.
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Yes. Dictate or type what you know about the client, and Apollo drafts a treatment plan with goals and interventions for you to review.
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No. Apollo writes notes without one. Adding the intake and treatment plan makes each note more specific to the client, and lets Apollo check progress against their goals.
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Update the treatment plan in the client’s profile. New notes follow the updated plan. Notes you’ve already saved don’t change.
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No tool can promise that, but a clear golden thread is one of the main things reviewers look for. Apollo flags anything missing so you can fix it before you sign. You always review the final note.
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Client details stay in your account. Notes and transcripts are encrypted with AES-256, every account gets a signed Business Associate Agreement (BAA), and your data is never used to train AI models. See how we protect your data.