A Q+A With The Founder of Berries

Let’s talk about using an AI tool for progress notes so you can actually save time and avoid burnout.

Tal Salman, Co-founder of Berries, an AI notes tool for therapists

If you’ve ever found yourself finishing a full day of clients only to face a stack of notes that still need to be written… you’re not alone.

You feel like you’re always behind, but you’re not.

You’re just doing client care and paperwork and admin… and somehow still expected to have a life

That’s where Berries comes in—a new AI-powered note-taking tool built for therapists.

It generates your notes after sessions (yes, really), so you can focus on your clients during sessions and reclaim your evenings after them.

We asked our Therapist Entrepreneur community what they actually wanted to know about Berries—not the sales pitch, but the real questions, and brought those questions straight to the source, Tal Salman, one of the co-founders of Berries.

He gave us honest answers, upcoming updates, and a behind-the-scenes look at what this tool can really do for your practice.

If you’ve been wondering whether AI could save you time without adding more stress (and if it’s secure), this is for you.

We dug into the real concerns therapists have about privacy, accuracy, pricing, and whether Berries is actually worth it. Tal answered it all.

Start reading below and then head here to check it out for yourself with a free trial.

Question:
Let’s start with the big one: How does Berries protect client privacy and stay HIPAA-compliant?

Therapists are carrying the weight of legal + ethical responsibility here. Break it down for us—what protections are in place?

Answer:

I’m glad to start with the most important question because protecting client privacy is at the core of everything we do.

Berries takes every measure to align with HIPAA requirements. All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, and we sign Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) with every customer when you sign up for the platform. We also maintain strict internal policies and provide ongoing privacy and security training for our team to ensure compliance at every level.

We never use your PHI to train our AI models, and we don’t repurpose data for anything beyond generating your notes. No ads, no data selling, no hidden use cases.
Data is stored securely on servers located in the U.S., and every vendor we work with undergoes a thorough security and compliance review. We only engage with HIPAA-compliant vendors who also sign BAAs with us.

Question:
What kind of cybersecurity measures do you have in place to prevent breaches or hacks?

Therapists need to know their notes aren’t floating around in some sketchy cloud. How do you make sure that doesn’t happen?

Answer:

This is a totally valid concern - and one we take seriously. We run regular security audits and proactive testing to identify and address potential vulnerabilities, ensuring we stay ahead of best practices.

To make sure your data remains safe and secure, Berries uses trusted, top-level tools that constantly check for any issues and make sure everything stays in line with privacy and security standards.

Basically, our system doesn’t just say it’s secure. We have systems in place that are always watching for problems, logging activity, and making sure your data is protected behind the scenes.

We’re also in the process of getting SOC 2 certification, a third-party audit that proves we’re following strict data protection protocols. It’s one more way we’re showing that we take your clients’ privacy and your peace of mind.

Question:
Can you walk us through what happens after a note is generated—how does Berries scrub it, and what’s saved (or not saved)?

Basically, once the note is written, who or what has access to it—and for how long?

Answer:

Absolutely. After a session, the audio recording is temporarily saved in a secure, encrypted manner while your note is being generated. Once the note is complete ( typically within seconds), the recording is automatically deleted and not retained.

The note itself is available in your Berries account, allowing you to review, edit, or copy it into your EHR. You can delete it manually at any time or set it to delete after 30 days automatically.

Client data is accessible to the therapist who owns the account. Your Berries account is protected with strong authentication, optional two-factor authentication (2FA), and activity logs.

Question:
Berries was built for mental health professionals, which is rare. What made you want to create this tool, and what keeps you focused on this community?

We want the backstory—the real one. Why therapists? Why notes? Why now?

Answer:

I really appreciate this question because, for us, this is personal.

Berries started with a mix of experiences that hit close to home. When my co-founder Yuval’s father was diagnosed with cancer, he saw just how overloaded the healthcare system was. The lack of time, staffing, and support made everything more challenging for his father and the entire family.

We began to explore the deeper problems in the healthcare system and noticed how much time therapists were spending on documentation, as well as how much energy it took away from actual client care. We looked for ways to help.

That’s what pushed us to build Berries. We wanted to do something meaningful for the people doing some of the most meaningful work. And more than that, we wanted to build a solution specifically for mental health professionals because the tools that existed just weren’t designed with your work in mind. They were built for general healthcare rather than being tailored to the unique flow, language, and needs of mental health therapy.
Also, Yuval and I have both dealt with anxiety in our own lives, and those experiences gave us a deep appreciation for the work mental health professionals do.
Now, more than ever, mental health is essential. And with AI finally at a point where it can support therapists in a responsible, secure, and human-centered way, the timing felt right.
What keeps us focused is knowing that if we can reduce even a fraction of your documentation load, we’re giving you more time, more energy, and more space to focus on what truly matters to you.

Question:
For therapists who aren’t tech-savvy (or just don’t have the brain space), what kind of support do you offer if someone’s struggling to get set up or needs help?

We’ve all bought tools that sounded great and then lost way too many hours trying to figure out how to use them. What makes Berries different?

Answer:

We completely understand that therapists are already carrying a lot of responsibilities. That’s why we built Berries with simplicity and ease in mind, especially for those who aren’t tech-savvy.

First, we invite every therapist to schedule a one-on-one onboarding call, where we’ll walk you through the platform and help tailor it to your workflow.

The platform itself is designed to be as intuitive as possible. In most cases, it’s just two clicks: Start Session and End Session - and your note is ready. You can also generate notes based on dictation or from text for clients who prefer not to be recorded. And yes, we provide a built-in client consent form to help keep everything compliant.
Additionally, we provide a comprehensive Help Center with step-by-step guides and articles available at any time. And if you ever need extra support, we're always here. Just reach out, and a real human will be happy to help.

Question:
A lot of us are wondering… is Berries going to stay indie, or are you planning to take on VC funding or sell to a bigger company?

People are worried about what happens when a tool they love sells out—especially in healthcare.

Answer:

We understand this concern, and we agree entirely. In healthcare especially, people have every right to be cautious when a tool they rely on suddenly changes hands.

From the very beginning, our focus has been on supporting therapists in the best way possible. Currently, that means we’re not planning to raise venture capital and are not looking to sell. If we ever consider a partnership or deal, it would only be with someone who aligns with our values - supporting therapists, empowering their work, and protecting the integrity of client care.

Ready to save hours every week with Berries?

Grab a free trial with my referral link below — If you end up loving it, use the code NICOLE50 to get $50 off your first month.

TRY BERRIES FOR FREE →

Question:
How do you decide on pricing—and are you planning to raise rates anytime soon?

We worry about costs increasing as soon as we invest in something new.

Answer:

We know how frustrating it can be to invest in a tool you love only to see the price jump later.

We’ve made our pricing as transparent and straightforward as possible, with no hidden fees, no surprise charges, and no complicated tiers.

Our goal is to maintain our current pricing while continually adding more value over time. We’re always working to build new features and improvements without passing that cost on to you.

We believe that supporting therapists means being transparent and respectful—especially when it comes to pricing. No surprises, no pressure, and no shady fine print. Just fair, predictable costs so you can plan your practice without second-guessing.

Question:
How does Berries integrate with tools we’re already using—like Sessions or other EHRs?

We want to make sure we don’t need to upgrade everything we use.

Answer:

There’s no need to change your entire setup. Berries is designed to work alongside the tools you already use.

We offer a “Copy Note” feature that allows you to transfer finalized notes into any EHR system effortlessly. It’s quick, straightforward, and optimized for efficiency - so you can keep your current workflow and still save time.

Whether you use Sessions, SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, or another platform, Berries supports seamless documentation with all major behavioral health EHRs.

Question:
What’s coming next for Berries? Any upcoming features or improvements you’re excited about?

We love seeing tools grow with us. What are you building that’s going to make our lives even easier?

Answer:

We’re always building with one question in mind: What would make therapists’ lives easier right now?

That mindset has helped us shape the tools we offer today, including progress notes, personalized formats, treatment plans, client email summaries, preparation for upcoming sessions, a smart diagnosis feature, and an AI clinical consultant chat to support your thinking between sessions.

Next up, we’re working on some exciting updates:

1. Golden Thread Alignment: Your intake, treatment plans, and progress notes will seamlessly connect, ensuring your documentation tells a clear, consistent story. Berries will help you effortlessly align everything with client goals, benefiting both clinical quality and insurance compliance.
2. Clinical Analytics Tool: Track client progress and support outcome-based care with our new analytics feature.
3. Real-time Suggestions: Receive live suggestions during or after sessions to facilitate deeper exploration with clients. These could include targeted questions, relevant topics for discussion, or even potential interventions to consider, all designed to elevate the quality of care you provide.
4. New Notes Template Builder & Customization: Enjoy greater flexibility with a new template builder and more customization options for your notes.
5. 30+ New Built-in Note Formats: We're expanding our library to over 30 note formats, making it even easier to find the perfect fit for your documentation needs.
6. Automated EHR Transfer: Directly transfer your notes into EHRs without copying and pasting, saving you time on documentation so you can focus on business growth or simply end your workday earlier!

When we decide what to build next, we always look to our community of therapists for guidance. Your feedback guides our future planning because no one understands your needs better than you do.

Looking further ahead, we're exploring two major paths: building an AI-native Electronic Medical Record (EMR) for mental health professionals and/or creating a true AI co-pilot that can fully handle the behind-the-scenes work. Imagine an intelligent assistant capable of automating billing creation, optimizing scheduling, and more, so you can focus on caring for your clients and yourself.

Question:
What’s your goal for Berries long term? Like, where do you see this going in 3–5 years?

We want to know your priorities as you grow.

Answer:

Our goal is for Berries to be the AI tool therapists actually trust—because it’s built with your real-life needs in mind and evolves alongside your practice.

As we grow, we’re staying grounded in what matters: a human-centered approach, real support from real people, and no corporate nonsense. We’re not chasing growth at your and your client’s expense—we’re here to stay connected to our community of therapists, listen to your feedback, and thoughtfully build something that truly supports your work.

Right now, we’re proud to support thousands of therapists across the country. In the next 3–5 years, our goal is to support tens of thousands more because we genuinely believe your work makes a difference. The more we can lighten your workload, the more people you can help.
We imagine a world where therapists can focus entirely on what they do best, while we take care of the rest.
This is definitely just the beginning, and we’re excited for what’s ahead.

Berries - an AI notes tool for therapists

Want to see if Berries can actually save you time (and your sanity)?

You can try it for yourself with a free trial using my referral link below.

If you end up loving it, use the code NICOLE50 to get $50 off your first month.

Heads up: That’s a referral link, so if you decide to sign up, I’ll receive a commission. But I only share tools that I believe are genuinely helpful—and this one is built specifically for therapists by people who get how much you’re juggling.

SAVE TIME WITH BERRIES →