This page refers to referral letters (also known as WPATH letters or letters of support) sometimes desired or required to access gender-affirming medical interventions.
I REFUSE TO PASS ON THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF A GATEKEEPING SYSTEM.
I write letters and complete letter-writing assessments at no cost to the client. Yes, really really!
Because Healing Village is a for-profit business, we cannot accept donations. However, you can Buy Me A Coffee to support session availability.
If you've reached a point in your transition that you're in need of a letter, let's connect about how I can help break down this barrier. I try to keep the process pretty straightforward because gatekeeping is not in line with my personal values or professional ethics.
I operate as much as possible on the Informed Consent model - under the presumption that you are a self-determined person with insight and awareness about how to use your bodily autonomy. In order to do this within a system that continues to use gatekeeping, I frame letter writing and the assessment as a way of improving outcomes and hope to end each assessment session by sharing a new consideration or idea with the individual.
For the letter, I must write that you are mentally, emotionally, practically, and financially prepared for the intervention, as well as being aware of the risks, benefits, and implications. This means that it's important for you to have done research in advance regarding what to expect.
I recommend this site to review the guidelines, potential complications, and expected outcomes for the planned intervention (hormones or surgery).
There is NO therapy required for any gender affirming referral letter. If you desire ongoing therapy, you can request a consultation through the Services Interest Form.
Hormone Therapy
Because of ongoing legal action in conjunction with Florida Senate Bill 254, as well as guidance by the Florida Board of Medicine, Healing Village has made the difficult decision to no longer hold assessment sessions or write referral letters for gender affirming hormone therapy in Florida.
Based on current guidance, it is recommended that those seeking gender affirming hormone therapy in Florida receive their letter from a licensed psychologist who is knowledgeable in gender affirming care.
Healing Village is willing to write letters for hormone therapy in Florida, however these letters may be rejected by the medical provider or insurance company. It is the responsibility of the person seeking the letter to confirm any requirements their insurance or hormone therapy provider may have, prior to requesting an appointment.
Surgery
Healing Village continues to conduct assessment sessions and write referral letters for gender affirming surgery for adults.
For further information, review the Surgery section below.
Provider Requirements:
You do not need an identified provider.
Informed Consent hormone therapy (no referral letter required) is available through:
Minors (and the parent/guardian giving consent to care) must also read the Minors/Youth section below.
Assessment Requirements:
It is your responsibility to have done your research about the intervention (risks, benefits, implications) and intended provider before the assessment session.
These videos demonstrates the injection process for intramuscular or IM vs. subcutaneous or Sub-Q injections.
Resources
Find information about GoodRx coupons for testosterone, spironolactone, and estradiol.
Provider Requirements:
For chest surgery (removal or augmentation) or gonadectomy (hysterectomy or orchiectomy), you must have an identified surgeon and ideally had an appointment or consultation with your surgeon.
For facial surgery or genital reconstruction, you must have identified a surgeon and had a surgical consultation prior to the letter-writing assessment session, because there are too many unique variables that must be discussed with a surgeon in order to be able to provide informed consent.
Minors (and the parent/guardian giving consent to care) must also read the Minors/Youth section below.
Assessment Requirements:
It is your responsibility to have done your research about the intervention (risks, benefits, implications) and intended provider before the assessment session.
For questions to ask during a surgical consult visit here.
For information about variations of chest reconstruction (removal), visit here.
For information about variations of genital reconstruction for people who were born with primarily internal genitals, check out these links on vaginectomy, metoidoplasty, phalloplasty, and scrotoplasty.
For information about variations of chest reconstruction (augmentation), visit here.
For information about variations of genital reconstruction for people who were born with primarily external genitals, check out these links on vulvoplasty, penile inversion vaginoplasty, peritoneal vaginoplasty, and rectosigmoid vaginoplasty.
Financial Resources:
Due to the current political landscape in the US, Healing Village has made the decision to no longer provide care or assessments/referral letters for minors.
Parent/Guardian Resources
If you've read the above and wish to move forward, the first step will be to complete the required forms for your assessment session.
All forms must be completed prior to the scheduling the session.
Healing Village will use this information to guide the letter-writing session and will pre-write some of the letter in advance.
If you are seeing a therapist or psychiatric provider, Healing Village will also send a release of information to be completed before the appointment. It's entirely your choice whether or not to sign the release, but it is required in order for Healing Village to hold an assessment/letter session.
After the forms are submitted, you'll receive a link to schedule the assessment session.
Please see the FAQ page for typical appointment availability.
Assessment appointments are held on a HIPAA-secure telehealth platform and both audio and video are required for the appointment.
During the session we'll review any necessary pieces of information from the forms, and review the letter together.
After the letter is completed, you will be sent the letter by email.
You will be sent the password-protected letter by email. The letter is then yours to send to whomever you decide.
If you've read all of this page and are ready to schedule your appointment, please complete the Services Interest form on the Contact page.