Glossary

Session Notes

Session notes are the written record of what happened in a coaching or mentoring session: decisions, observations, action items, client context and follow-up points. **Good session notes turn a useful conversation into evidence the client and mentor can use later.** They are different from a transcript because they organise meaning, not every spoken word.

Why session notes matter

Mentors forget details faster than they think. Clients also forget why a decision felt important during the call. Session notes protect the thread between sessions and reduce repeated context setting.

The ICF 2025 Core Competencies describe facilitation of client growth as turning learning into action and accountability, Checked 2026-07-09 on the ICF Core Competencies. Notes support that standard when they capture the action, the reason and the next review point.

How session notes work in practice

A practical note has 5 parts: client goal, key insight, decision made, action item and evidence to review next time. MentPass uses your Fathom account for session intelligence, then keeps notes connected to prep, actions and recaps.

Note element	Example
Goal	Reduce wasted paid-search spend.
Decision	Pause low-intent ad group before Friday.
Action	Client to update campaign labels.
Evidence	Review cost per qualified lead next session.

Common mistakes

Writing a transcript instead of a decision record.
Keeping notes private when the client needs shared evidence.
Recording advice without the action it created.
Missing the metric or proof to check next time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should session notes include?

Session notes should include the goal, key insight, decision, action item and evidence to review next session. They should be short enough to use.

Are session notes the same as meeting minutes?

No. Meeting minutes record what was discussed. Coaching session notes should capture what changed and what action follows.

Should clients see coaching session notes?

Often yes, at least in summarised form. Shared notes reduce ambiguity and make progress easier to inspect.

How do session notes help retention?

They give the client a visible record of decisions, actions and progress. That makes renewal less dependent on memory.