How I Take Paperless Client Notes on an iPad with Notability

In this video, I'll share how I take and organize client notes on my iPad using Notability.
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**** A full transcript can be found at www.marblejar.net. ****
Hi, everyone.  This is Lara Hammock from the Marble Jar channel and in today's video, I'll share how I take and organize client notes on my iPad using Notability.
I'm pretty committed to a paperless existence.  I only print things out when I'm absolutely required and I scan whatever papers I'm given so that I can recycle them.  I have a whole bunch of videos on what tools I use for other paperless pursuits like packing lists and class notes, but in today's video -- I'm going to share how I use Notability to organize my client notes.
I've just recently become a mental health therapist.  One of the hacks that use to pay attention in ANY environment is to take lots of notes.  I have a world class terrible memory and am highly distractible, so taking notes helps me to pay attention in the moment AND it also creates a convenient written record to assist my memory later on.   But therapists aren't the only ones who take client notes.  Almost anyone who meets with people takes some kind of notes: financial advisors, physical trainers, case workers, life coaches, salespeople of any kind -- you get the idea.  And maybe you are already taking paper notes and are having a hard time organizing them.  Or you keep leaving your notebooks in another place and don't have access to them when you need them.   Or maybe you recently got an iPad and are intrigued with the idea of taking notes on it.   For any of these scenarios, this video is for you.  I'll walk you through the tools I have, how I use Notability to take notes, how I organize them, and some of my hacks for following up and remember important things about each client.  First,
Tools
Notability is the app that I use on my iPad for handwritten note-taking.  This will not be a Notability tutorial, but I do happen to have a tutorial video if you are interested.  One of the many reasons that I love Notability is that you can paste a photo or screenshot of anything into a note and then write on top of it.  This is particularly convenient for client notes since I can screenshot worksheets or other exercises and fill them out by hand within the app.  I also have an Apple Pencil, which is not cheap, but fully worth the investment if you are considering switching to paperless notes.  The other thing I would definitely recommend is buying an iPad case that has a loop or holder for the pencil, so it that doesn't get lost.  After all, if you don't have your pencil, you won't be able to take notes.  Okay -- let's get to how I use
Notability
First of all, I have a section (which Notability calls a Divider) called Client Notes.  Within this I have a different folder (which Notability calls a Subject) for each client.  The rules of my workplace hold that client names have to be anonymized when used outside of their protected system, so I use initials for each client.  These folders are in the order that I see them each week.  I could see myself putting that information in the name of the folder, so "Monday 11am - RT" for example.  You can see that I also have a folder called Templates.  This contains blank worksheets or templates that I can duplicate to use for any client.  I'll show you how I do that later on. 
- Client Note - Okay -- so for each client session, I start a new note.  The naming convention that I use is the client's initials and then the date, which I do in a 6 digit format, year first.  So Christmas Day 2021 would be 211225.  I use this format as a standard everywhere since titles using this format will naturally sort chronologically when alphabetical sorting is turned on. Notability by default sorts by most recently edited, so it's less important.  In other words, use whatever date format works for you.  
- Templates - Let me show you how I handle forms or worksheets.  For example, in my agency, we have have to fill out an intake form within the first three sessions with a client, so to do this, I go into Templates and find the Intake form.  Then I press down on it to show other options and hit Duplicate.  Now I take the one that says "Copy" and move it into the appropriate client folder.   So find it in that folder and rename it to an appropriate title -- I always include the client's initials first.  Now I can handwrite directly on this form or worksheet. 
- Client Cheatsheet - You'll see along with notes for each session, I also have this note that has blue emoji squares around it.  I have one of these for each client.  I call this a client cheatsheet.  Here's what I include on the cheatsheet for each client: things to talk about next meeting, parking lot issues (or things to bring up later), main issues, and things for me to remember . . .

Видео How I Take Paperless Client Notes on an iPad with Notability канала Marble Jar Channel