Free Clinical Tools

Built for independent clinicians who are building a practice without a big budget. No login required for most tools. No data stored — ever.

All tools work on any device — phone, tablet, or desktop
AI-Powered

Clinical Note Writer

Enter session bullet points, select SOAP/DAP/BIRP/Narrative — AI generates a polished clinical note in seconds. Guided prompts show you exactly what to document for each format.

15/day free 30/day $7.95/mo 60/day Pro Unlimited VIP
Works Offline

State Involuntary Hold Guide

All 50 states + DC. Legal criteria, who can initiate, step-by-step process, form names, and a guided form preparation wizard. 1013, Baker Act, 5150, 302, and more.

100% Free — No login
FREE

Sliding Scale Fee Calculator

Enter your rate and minimum viable fee. Generates a 5-tier fee schedule based on federal poverty guidelines — printable handout for your office.

Free
FREE

Superbill Generator

NPI, tax ID, 11 CPT codes, ICD-10 diagnoses, place of service, modifiers — generates a clean, insurance-ready superbill for out-of-network reimbursement.

Free
FREE

Crisis Safety Plan Builder

Stanley-Brown Safety Planning Intervention. 6 steps, completed collaboratively with clients. Print a copy for the client and one for the chart.

Free

Treatment Plan Builder

10 diagnoses, MBC baselines, comorbidity mapping, stage of change, risk assessment, and evidence-based interventions. Print-ready plans.

Free
FREE

Informed Consent Generator

6-step wizard — telehealth addendum, No Surprises Act, social media policy, mandated reporter disclosure, Good Faith Estimate language.

Free
DSM-5-TR

Diagnostic Impressions Helper

Map 111 symptoms to 9 DSM-5-TR diagnoses. Criteria tracking, screening instrument recommendations, differential diagnosis, comorbidity guidance.

Free
44 STEPS

Practice Startup Checklist

44 items across 6 categories — LLC, NPI, CAQH, insurance paneling, documentation, marketing. Progress saves in your browser.

Free

Tools get you started. CE courses make you dangerous.

Every tool on this page connects to a deeper skill. Our NBCC-approved CE courses go beyond checkbox compliance — clinical vignettes, interactive decision points, and real-world application.

Browse CE Courses

Use More. Pay Less Than a Coffee.

15 free notes per day, no account needed. Need more? Subscribe.

Free
$0
No account needed
15 AI notes / day
All standalone tools
Hold guide + wizard
No login required
Current Plan
Note Writer
$7.95
per month
30 AI notes / day
SOAP, DAP, BIRP, Narrative
All standalone tools
Treatment Planner
Subscribe — $7.95/mo
BEST VALUE
Clinical Tools Plus
$15.95
per month
30 AI notes / day
SOAP, DAP, BIRP, Narrative
Treatment Plan Builder
All standalone tools
Subscribe — $15.95/mo
VIP — Full Platform
$49.99
per month
Unlimited AI notes
All clinical tools
All CE courses (200+ hrs)
Multi-state credential tracking
AI certificate scanner
Go VIP — $49.99/mo

All plans include access to every standalone tool. Cancel anytime. No contracts.

Important: These Are Clinical Tools, Not an EHR

CounselorReady Clinical Tools are documentation aids — they help you generate, organize, and format clinical documents. They are not an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system. We don't store your client records, we don't manage your charts, and we don't carry the legal responsibilities of an EHR vendor. That's exactly why we can offer these tools at $7.95–$15.95/month instead of $29–$99/month.

What this means for you: You are responsible for maintaining, securing, and storing all clinical records in a manner that complies with HIPAA, your state licensing board requirements, and applicable federal/state laws. The notes, treatment plans, and documents generated here are starting points — you copy them into your own record-keeping system, review them for accuracy, and maintain them according to your professional obligations.

We encourage you to regularly evaluate your practice needs and transition to a full EHR when your client volume, insurance paneling, or practice complexity makes it the right move. An EHR is not a luxury — it's a clinical and legal safeguard. When you're ready, platforms like SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, and Jane App are designed specifically for mental health practitioners.

Until You're Ready for an EHR — How to Maintain Your Records

Many new clinicians — especially those in the first year of private practice — don't yet need a $30+/month EHR. Here are clinically and legally defensible ways to manage your records on a budget:

Option 1: Encrypted Cloud Folder System
Create a HIPAA-compliant cloud folder structure (Google Workspace with BAA, Microsoft 365 Business with BAA, or Sync.com). One folder per client, subfolders for Intake, Progress Notes, Treatment Plans, Correspondence. Use CounselorReady tools to generate documents, then save as PDF or Word in the client folder. Cost: $6–12/month.
Option 2: Secure Word/PDF + Encrypted USB Backup
Generate notes and plans here, paste into Word or save as PDF. Store on a password-protected, encrypted computer. Back up weekly to an encrypted USB drive stored in a locked location separate from your computer. Label files with client number (not name) and date. Cost: $15 one-time for encrypted USB.
Option 3: Free/Low-Cost EHR Alternatives
OpenEMR (free, open-source, self-hosted) — full EHR but requires technical setup. TherapyNotes at $49/mo is the most affordable full-featured option. Doxy.me free tier for telehealth + a folder system for notes. Some clinicians start with a cloud folder system and migrate to an EHR once they reach 10+ active clients.
Whatever You Choose — Non-Negotiables
1. Encrypt everything — at rest and in transit. 2. Never store PHI on a personal email or unencrypted device. 3. Back up regularly — two locations minimum. 4. Use client numbers, not full names, in file names. 5. Retain records per your state's requirement (typically 7+ years, longer for minors). 6. Have a records destruction policy. 7. Get a BAA from any cloud provider you use.
When it's time to upgrade: Consider moving to a full EHR when you're paneling with insurance (claims management matters), seeing 15+ clients/week (manual tracking becomes risky), employing other clinicians (you need audit trails), or receiving an audit or board inquiry (an EHR is your best friend). CounselorReady's CE courses on documentation and billing can help you make that transition confidently — and your notes/plans generated here will import cleanly into any EHR.
New to Private Practice?
You don't have to figure it out alone.

The tools on this page will get you documenting like a pro. But there's a hundred other decisions between "I got my license" and "I have a thriving practice" — and most of them nobody taught you in grad school.

Book a 1:1 Practice Startup Consultation with a licensed clinician who's already built what you're building. One hour. No fluff. Just answers to the questions keeping you up at night.

LLC vs. sole proprietor — which one and why
NPI registration, CAQH, credentialing steps
Setting your fee, sliding scale structure
Insurance paneling vs. private pay strategy
EHR selection, documentation setup
Telehealth setup, multi-state licensure
Liability insurance, Good Faith Estimates
Your specific questions — bring your list
Not therapy. Not legal advice. Not supervision. Just practical, experienced guidance from someone who's been where you are — delivered by a licensed clinician with real private practice experience.
1:1 Consultation
$105
60 minutes · Video or Phone
Book a Consultation
Or included quarterly with VIP ($49.99/mo)
Learn about VIP →
Presented by
Kejuiana Johnson, MA, LPC, NCC, CPCS, BC-TMH
GA License #LPC009587