Writing Gender-Affirming Letters: Best Practices for LCSW

Workshop Description

Clients seeking gender-affirming care often require referral letters from mental health professionals. Unfortunately, many individuals struggle to find providers who can write these letters, leading to barriers and delays in accessing essential, life-saving treatment. This creates harmful gatekeeping for transgender, non-binary, and gender-nonconforming (TGNCNB) individuals, restricting their access to affirming care.

This workshop will provide social workers with the knowledge and skills needed to write effective and compassionate gender-affirming letters. Participants will engage with real case studies to practice letter-writing and receive feedback from peers and the instructor. Ethical considerations, including trauma-informed and client-centered approaches, will also be discussed.

Learning Objectives

• Describe the purpose and requirements of gender-affirming letters.
• Discuss ethical considerations when writing these letters.
• Demonstrate how to write trauma-informed, client-centered letters.

Continuing Education Credits:

This workshop is approved for 2.0 continuing education credit hours for licensed social workers, licensed mental health counselors, licensed marriage and family therapists, and licensed psychologists.

Please ensure you register and/or join Zoom with the name you want to appear on your certificate.

Continuing Education Provider Information

NASW-NYS 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 Social Workers (Provider ID #0014)
• Licensed Mental Health Counselors (Provider ID #MHC-0053)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (Provider ID #MFT-0037)
• Licensed Psychologists (Provider ID #PSY-0088)

Presenter: German Sanchez, LCSW, RDT

German Sanchez is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Registered Drama Therapist (RDT) in New York State. He holds degrees from the Catholic University of America and NYU Steinhardt Drama Therapy Program.

With experience across substance abuse clinics, hospitals, and community mental health settings, German has worked with diverse populations, including HIV-positive individuals, military personnel, veterans, adolescents, and families. He integrates multiple therapeutic approaches, including CBT, structural family therapy, CPT, brainspotting, drama therapy, and psychodrama.

Currently, German serves as an Army National Guard social worker, supporting military personnel. He is also a Clinical Supervisor at the HEAT Program and the President of NASW-NYC, advocating for social justice, leadership, and professional development in the social work community.

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