Author: Dr. Salwa Zeineddine

Salwa Zeineddine is an expert in the mental health and medical field, being a medical student and having worked as a medical researcher at the American University of Beirut Medical Center for many years. She is highly knowledgeable about therapists’ needs and insurance requirements. Salwa has always considered herself a successful person, being the recipient of a full scholarship from the AUB Faculty of Medicine. Her achievements over the years made her realize that real success is one in which she can genuinely affect people’s lives, the reason why she became passionate about helping people better understand and manage their mental health. Salwa is an advocate for mental health, is committed to providing the best possible care for her patients, and works to ensure that everyone has access to the resources they need.

HIPAA Compliant Note-Taking App (2025)

Session Documentation

Keep Your Patients’ Notes Private and Secure In the past, therapists had no choice but to keep their patients’ notes in an insecure way, either on paper or in a file on an office computer. But these days, that’s no longer necessary thanks to the increased use of HIPAA-compliant note-taking apps and software online and […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Best AI SOAP Note Generator Free (2025)

Session Documentation

Therapists often face the challenge of keeping up with detailed session notes while managing a full client load. Mentalyc’s AI SOAP Note Generator is designed to make this task easier by turning voice recordings or written summaries into clear, structured SOAP notes in minutes. It helps therapists save time, stay organized, and reduce the stress […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
DAP Note Generator (2025)

Session Documentation

As the name implies, DAP stands for Data, Assessment, and Plan and is used by mental health professionals all over the world to document psychotherapy sessions. The DAP notes provide a standard way for psychotherapists and counselors to document their sessions, so they can always follow the D-A-P format when documenting them. The D-A-P note […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
ABA Notes Generator: Simplify Therapy Session Documentation for RBTs & BCBAs (2025)

Session Documentation

You finish the session feeling good about the progress made – then comes the part no one looks forward to. Writing the ABA notes. That’s why more and more ABA professionals are turning to tools that make life easier. An ABA Notes Generator helps turn that blank page into clear, structured, professional notes in minutes. […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Group Therapy Notes (With Group Note Template for Therapists)

Session Documentation

Working through your struggles with the support of people facing similar issues can be a real game-changer. The whole give-and-take of help can really bring out the best in us. After all, humans have been tackling life’s challenges together in squads since the dawn of walking on two legs. Penning progress notes in group therapy, however, is a […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
How to Write ABA Session Notes: Tips, Templates & Best Practices for RBTs, BCBAs & BCaBAs

Session Documentation

Ever catch yourself thinking, “Am I doing ABA notes the right way?” Whether you’re a Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) or another kind of therapist, you’ve probably been writing notes since your very first client. Yet most of us never received clear guidance on how to make ABA notes both efficient and meaningful for the client’s […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Progress Notes in Mental Health (2025)

Session Documentation

In Case You Are Wondering About “What Are Progress Notes in Mental Health and How to Write Them?”, This Blog Is for You! When interviewing new clients, most therapists insist on delving deep into the famous question: “What were the effects and upshots of previous counseling, if any?” This is one of the smartest ways […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Socratic Questioning

Treatment Planing and Approaches

Heads-up, What Are We Cooking in Today’s Blog? Imagine you’re sitting at a cozy café, sipping your favorite drink, and a friend starts telling you about this fascinating guy from ancient Greece: Socrates. Socrates was a bit of a mystery. He never wrote anything down, and yet, his ideas have traveled through time, thanks to his […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Thinking Errors (Cognitive Distortions)

General and Other

I felt like a complete failure as I walked off the stage, my face burning with humiliation… The big annual conference was supposed to be my chance to shine, but instead, I fumbled my way through the worst presentation of my career. As the next speaker was being introduced, I replayed the cringe-worthy moments in […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
What Is the Anger Iceberg?

General and Other

Anger is generally a secondary reaction concealing deeper needs or fears. Just the other day, I met with a distraught teenage client struggling with overwhelming family conflict. To her, it seemed she could do nothing right in her parents' eyes. Every little mistake was met with rage and reprimand. As we spoke, it became clear the situation […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Golden Thread Mental Heath Documentation (The Golden Thread Approach to Progress Notes)

Session Documentation

Clinical documentation… Ugh! Just hearing those words makes me want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers over my head. I often hear colleagues say, “I hate paperwork”. And honestly, who can blame them? The thought of sitting down to meticulously document every session can feel like a chore, especially after a long […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Adult Attachment Scale (AAS)

Progress Monitoring

We’ve all felt nervous meeting new people or putting ourselves out there socially. Making that first move to interact with others requires a degree of vulnerability that can stir up anxious feelings inside. This is normal human experience, at least for me! I recall how avoidance and distance were once my automatic reactions in relationships due to […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Outcome Measures in Mental and Behavioral Health

Progress Monitoring

Mental health outcome measures are valuable instruments used to assess the progress of individuals' mental well-being. These measures effectively capture a range of metrics, including various aspects of client functioning, symptomatology, and treatment experiences. Such assessments capture baseline data at the commencement of services, as well as progress documented as support continues. What Are We […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7)

Progress Monitoring

The GAD-7 is a user-friendly, self-administered questionnaire for screening and measuring generalized anxiety disorder severity. The Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-Item Questionnaire (GAD-7) The GAD-7 score is obtained by adding the scores for each of the 7 questions (total points) (range: 0-21) Scoring & Interpretation Now that you’ve completed the GAD-7 questionnaire, it’s important to understand […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Social Interaction Anxiety Scale (SIAS)

Progress Monitoring

We've all been there. Your heart starts racing as you think about having to give a presentation in front of the class. Or maybe the idea of making small talk at a party makes you break out in a cold sweat! Social anxiety is something most people can relate to on some level. But for […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Mental Status Exam (MSE) Cheat Sheet & Checklist

Session Documentation

As helping professionals, our primary aim is to gain a thorough understanding of those who seek our guidance. There exist various respectful avenues for cultivating knowledge about an individual’s experiences and circumstances, whether through brief check-ins or more extended discussions. Often, a carefully organized interview allows for in-depth learning about how someone functions and behaves […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Informed Consent in Counseling (Benefits, Tips & Examples)

Session Documentation

Have you ever found yourself in a hospital awaiting surgery or sitting in a therapist’s office, only to be handed a consent form before your treatment commenced? In healthcare, it is commonplace for doctors and mental health professionals, including counselors and therapists, to ask clients to provide their informed consent. This crucial step ensures that individuals have been adequately […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Occupational Therapy Documentation – OT Notes (With Examples)

Session Documentation

As occupational therapists and healthcare professionals, we know how important thorough documentationis. Not only does it protect us legally, but it allows us to monitor our clients’ progress over time and collaborate with other providers. Among the various notes we write, occupational notes seem to get the least love 🙁 They’re often an afterthought we scribble down between sessions rather than an opportunity to showcase […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
SOAP Notes in Mental Health Counseling: Examples, Templates & Writing Guide (2025)

Session Documentation

Sometimes, one might have nightmares for no reason at all. At other times, your work might be spilling over into your dreams! You are astonished. Aren’t you? Let me explain: you are a mental health provider struggling with hundreds of patient cases. You scribble down unorganized therapy notes, and you end up crashing with therapeutic standards […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
How to Write Therapy Notes (With Examples)

Session Documentation

What Are Therapy Notes and How to Write Them? Your last session ran over time, you are making sure your patient is wearing the broadest smile, feeling supported, and having all his questions answered; tens of patients are still waiting for your consultation; you have a pile of client emails that need an answer, and […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
ICD-10 Code for Bipolar Disorder

Session Documentation

Yes, That’s Me! In the wacky world of bipolar disorder, life’s a rollercoaster, and I’m the enthusiastic (and occasionally terrified) rider! One day, I’m soaring through the skies, convinced I can conquer the world with my brilliant ideas – I even tried to launch a business selling glow-in-the-dark socks for fish (don’t ask). But then, faster […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Diagnostic Criteria for Autism: DSM-5

Session Documentation

Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder Autism, often referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a complex developmental condition characterized by a diverse range of challenges related to communication, social interaction, and behavior. This condition is a lifelong companion, and its manifestation varies significantly from one individual to another. In this blog post, we will explore the world […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
ICD-10 Code for Alcohol Use Disorder

Session Documentation

The modern way of life has thrown us all for a loop, and let's be real, it's even messed with our booze habits. I mean, who could blame us? With the whole world flipping upside down, the bottle has been there to lend a sympathetic ear. Picture this: You're stuck at home, your work schedule's […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine
Find the Right ICD 10 Code for ADHD

Session Documentation

The ADHD Journey Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent neurological condition that weaves its presence into countless lives, manifesting as behavioral challenges related to attention, impulsivity, and/or hyperactivity, oftentimes casting shadows upon daily lives and personal growth. Also recognized as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), this condition can potentially lead to substantial adverse outcomes if left untreated. Understandably, […]

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Dr. Salwa Zeineddine