Trans 101 Resources for Therapists

Local Interest

• Fresno Transgender Health Assessment and Action Report: written in partnership between Fresno EOC & Trans E-Motion under direction of Dr. Kat Fobear, Fresno State. Trans and non-binary people here in Fresno face enduring hardship in obtaining competent medical care; this can markedly affect whole-self health.

• PFLAG Fresno’s list of local and national resources (Also we have a monthly support group and educational presentation for families, friends, allies, parents, and the LGBTQ+ community every second Sunday from 2-4!)

• Trans E Motion: Local organization focusing on the needs of trans and non-binary folks in the Valley; hosts a variety of support groups through the month. Two Board Members are LMFT’s and are active in supporting letters for insurances for gender affirming surgeries.

Presentation Media

• Trans 101 for Therapists PowerPoint PDF April 21 2022, slides only

• Guide to Creating an Trans & Non-Binary Inclusive Therapy Practice PDF; detailed document taken from slides/presentation

How-To’s

• 11 Steps Towards a Trans-Inclusive, Gender-Affirming Practice: Article referenced in slides with specific recommendations

• A Clinician’s Guide to Gender-Affirming Care: Working with Transgender & Gender Non-Conforming Clients : Textbook written by Dr. Sand Chang, non-binary psychologist who works as Kaiser NorCal’s Transgender Program’s Clinical Practice Consultant & lore m. dickey, a transman and clinical psychologist

Letter Writing for Gender Affirming Surgeries

• UCSF’s Guide to Surgical Referral Letter Writing : UCSF’s Gender Affirming Health Program (a great resource all-around for more medical and transition related info) has provided this page to break down the WPATH’s SOC regarding current letter writing.

• Fenway Trans Health (Boston) PowerPoint on Letter Writing : Fenway Trans Health is recognized as a leader in trans care; scroll down their primary web site for Provider Support & further resources

• Fenway Trans Health & National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Video on Letter Writing : Excellent, 37 minute presentation on how to write letters in collaboration with clients, sensitively and without gatekeeping. One of the best resources.

• PDF of Sample Letter from a Local LMFT : Sample letter which can be customized for your own clients. Letter can also be abbreviated or condensed; not all fields are necessary.

More Resources

• Gender Spectrum : National Trans support organization. One of the best sites for all-around resources, combined articles, and online support groups.

• UCSF Trans Health & Gender Affirming Care : Guidelines for medical care. UCSF is a leader in trans care and there are many informational resources available on their site to explore.

  • Specifically see their resource on Mental Health here

Guidelines and Standards

• WPATH Standards of Care: Revision 7 from the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (SOC 8 due out later this year!)

• APA Guidelines for Psychological Practice with Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming People (published in 2015 and a little dated, but a decent overview)

Other Places and Ways to Show Support

• InclusiveTherapists.com : Therapy search site/directory that centers on BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ affirming therapists & practices

• The GALAP Project : Directory of mental health providers who write letters for medical interventions, pro bono

• Annual Philly Trans Health Conference (online this year!) - Trans and Non-Binary led community health conference to educate and empower both trans folks and the providers who care for us. This year is July 21-23, 2022, all virtual. Their General Track presentations are free.

Further Reading

• Trevor Project’s 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health : Good source for information and graphics regarding mental health. Trans kids who had someone at home who respected their chosen name and pronouns attempted suicide at half the rate of those youth who had no one at home who used their name and pronouns.

• Trevor Project’s 2020 Youth Survey

• Trevor Project’s Inaugural Youth Survey, 2019

• Protecting and Advancing Health Care for Transgender Adult Communities: a report by the Center for American Progress; much useful info regarding the intersection of trans & gender expansive folks and mental health

• The Gender Affirmative Model: What We Know and What We Aim to Learn: Good journal article from Journal of Human Development, written by clinical psychologists from UCSF, Children’s Hospital LA, Boston Children’s/Harvard, dispelling myths and educating about the gender affirmative model of care given to trans youth