Therapists Deserve to Leave Work at Work

A Familiar Struggle

We were traveling together—working remotely, chasing sunlight, trying to make the most of our flexible schedules. But one thing kept getting in the way: session notes.

After her client calls, my partner would sit down to write documentation, and it was like her whole energy shifted. She'd go from open and engaged to quiet, closed-off, and stressed. It wasn't just a task—it was this looming thing that seemed to follow her everywhere. We'd change plans, skip dinners, or delay a swim just so she could catch up.

It became clear that these notes weren't just a nuisance—they were affecting her week, her presence, and our time together. And she was always talking about the backlog. Always feeling behind. Always carrying the sessions long after they ended.

"It didn't feel fair. She had just given so much—and then had to relive it just to write it all down."

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What Documentation Really Costs

There's so much that happens in a session. It's not just listening—it's tracking stories, noticing patterns, feeling the room, remembering moments that matter. Therapists are holding all of that in real-time, often with barely a breath between clients.

And then, after that full-body presence, they're expected to switch gears and document it all. Quickly. Accurately. With insight and structure.

That's not a small ask. It's exhausting. And it doesn't just drain energy—it pulls them out of their own lives. Even when the session ends, the story lingers.

Burnout among therapists is well-documented, and the emotional and administrative load—especially documentation—plays a significant role (Vivolo et al., 2025).

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A Quiet Idea: Could a Tool Help?

At the time, I was exploring what newer AI models could do—especially the ones that can run locally, right on your device. I'd been tinkering with different tools and workflows, and I started wondering: what if I could build something just for her?

Something that didn't need the cloud. That didn't require an account. That just... helped.

It started simple: could I create a way to capture what was said in a session, summarize it, and hand it back in a format she could use? Something fast, private, and easy—so she could finally stop carrying the whole session in her head.

That's when I started building Scribular.

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Privacy Isn't Optional—It's Foundational

From the beginning, it was clear that this couldn't be just another cloud-based AI tool. Therapists work with some of the most sensitive stories in the world. It's not just about compliance—it's about respect.

That's part of why I've always been drawn to tools and technologies that put control back in people's hands. My work with decentralized technology has shown me the power of building systems that don't need intermediaries—where your data stays with you, not on someone else's servers. No middlemen. No silent observers. No one watching over your shoulder.

Scribular is built with those same values. Everything happens on your device. No syncing. No storage. No audio being uploaded to some remote server. It's just you, your session, and a tool that gets out of the way.

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How It Changed Her Workflow

Once it was working, the shift was immediate. She finished a session, hit a button, and her notes were ready—summarized, clean, and easy to review. No more sitting there trying to recall exact phrasing or dig through memory. No more backlog creeping into the evening.

She started closing her laptop at the end of the day with a sense of relief. We could have dinner. She could relax. She could actually be done.

And the next day, she’d start fresh. No lingering stories. No late-night note catch-up. Just a clearer boundary between work and life.

It was subtle at first—but the impact was real. She was more present, more rested, and honestly, just happier.

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For Therapists Who Deserve Better

Therapists don't get into this work to spend hours writing notes. They do it to hold space, offer care, and make people feel seen. But the emotional cost of that work is real—and the systems meant to support them often just add more to carry.

A growing body of research shows that reducing documentation burden can directly improve well-being, restore energy between sessions, and reduce burnout among behavioral health professionals (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 2022).

I didn't build Scribular to scale or sell. I built it because I love someone who was overwhelmed, and I knew I could help. Now I'm sharing it with others who might be feeling the same thing.

There's more to come. I plan to keep building simple, respectful tools that give people back their time and energy. If this resonates with you—if it feels like the kind of support you've been missing—I'd love to hear from you.

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Tools that respect your boundaries aren't just possible—they're necessary