Referral Letters for Gender Affirming Medical Care

About the Course

In order for a transgender person to receive gender affirming medical care in the US, a letter from a licensed therapist, psychologist, or psychiatrist is typically required. This puts mental health clinicians in the role of gatekeeper, often the critical deciding factor in whether a transgender person is able to receive the necessary services to live a tolerable life in the body and identity that feels comfortable for them.

This course will offer clinicians tangible tools for writing medical letters in support of a client’s gender alignment. Clinicians will gain an in-depth understanding about the letter writing process as well as the various instances where clinicians may be asked to write medical letters. Clinicians will also be provided medical letter templates for their use in their future work with transgender clients. For every clinician that identifies as an ally for the Transgender community, this course is necessary in order to expand your allyship and support as you may be the deciding factor in the medical transition of a transgender person.

2 hours CE. Recorded video format (non-interactive)

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Course Overview

ESTIMATED COURSE LENGTH: 2.13 hours

CE CREDITS: 2.00 continuing education/contact hours for social workers, psychologists, counselors, and marriage and family therapists

TARGET AUDIENCE: Mental Health Practitioners

LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION: Intermediate

PREREQUISITE(S): None

INSTRUCTIONAL METHOD: Recorded video format (non-interactive)

ACCESSIBILITY ACCOMMODATIONS: Closed captioning of audio components. In order to request further accessibility accommodations, please email support@psychhub.com.

COMPLETION REQUIREMENTS: To obtain your CE certificate, learners must complete a pre-test (not scored), progress through all course segments, complete a participant evaluation, and obtain a score of 80% or higher on a post-test. Learners are expected to complete the quiz within 3 attempts. If unable to do so, the learner will need to re-review the course segments.

FINANCIAL/COMMERCIAL SUPPORT STATEMENT: This course has no commercial support.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST:  This course has no potential conflict of interest or outside commercial support. Psych Hub's conflict of interest statement is found in the footer of the training center.

GRIEVANCE AND REFUND POLICIES: Grievance and refund policies are found in the footer of the training center.

PARTICIPATION COSTS:  The cost to participate in this CE activity is included in the subscription registration fee.

COURSE CREATION DATE: 6/24/2021

 

 

 

 


Learning Objectives

By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:

  • Describe at least two elements of the importance of therapist letters of support for medical and non-medical gender transition
  • Identify at least two differences between the informed consent model and the diagnostic model of transgender care
  • Identify at least two types of letters therapists write in support of transgender clients
  • Outline at least four vital aspects of a therapist letter of referral

Course Outline

  1. History of Transgender Affirming Medical Services
  2. Medically Necessary vs. Non-medically Necessary
  3. Why Referral Letters Are Required from Therapists
  4. Types of Referral Letters Required
    1. Types of letters for medical processes
    2. Types of letters for non-medical processes 
  5. Diagnostic vs. Informed Consent Models
    1. Diagnostic Model
    2. Informed Consent Model
    3. Ethical Considerations
  6. Writing Referral Letters
    1. How To Decide to Write a Letter for a Client and Various Ways to Approach Care
    2. When to Say “No” to Writing a Letter Now
    3. WPATH Standards of Care
  7. Scenarios to Consider
  8. Other Instances for Writing Letters
  9. Billing for Letter Writing Services
  10. Wrap Up and Review
    1. Template Letters

CE Information


American Psychological Association (APA)
Psych Hub is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Psych Hub maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Psychologists completing this course receive 2.00 continuing education credits.

Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB)
Psych Hub, #1750, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 08/20/2024 – 08/20/2027. Social workers completing this course receive 2.00 clinical continuing education credits.

California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT)
Psych Hub is approved by the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to sponsor continuing education for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and LEPs. Psych Hub maintains responsibility for this program/course and its content. CAMFT Approval #1000074. Course meets the qualifications for 2.00 hours of continuing education credit for LMFTs, LCSWs, LPCCs, and/or LEPs as required by the California Board of Behavioral Sciences.

National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC)
Psych Hub has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7051. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Psych Hub is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Counselors completing this course receive 2.00 continuing education hours.

New York State Education Department - Licensed Mental Health Counselors (NYSED-LMHC)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0257. New York State licensed mental health counselors completing this course receive 2.00 contact hours.

New York State Education Department - Marriage & Family Therapists (NYSED-MFT)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed marriage and family therapists #MFT-0109. New York State marriage and family therapists completing this course receive 2.00 contact hours.

New York State Education Department - Psychology (NYSED-PSY)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0208. New York State licensed psychologists completing this course receive 2.00 contact hours.

New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work (NYSED-SW)
Psych Hub, LLC is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0699. New York State social workers completing this course receive 2.00 contact hours.

Experts


Moe A. Brown, MS, LMFT
Moe Ari Brown, LMFT (they/he) is a Transgender Identified therapist, public speaker, and writer. He has almost a decade of experience working with clients who hold marginalized and intersecting identities (specifically within the LGBTQIA+ community) to develop Radical Authenticity within their lives. He is the founder of Transcendent Therapy and Consulting. There, he has contracted with universities, community mental health agencies, and other mental health organizations to provide continuing education about transgender affirming care. Previously an adjunct professor for graduate level clinicians, Moe remains dedicated to helping advance the mental health field’s role in transgender care, through public speaking and educating others on allyship.