The Therapist Thrival Guide 96. Letter Writing Tips for Therapists
In this episode, Miranda is joined by Jennifer Keehn, LPCC, to unpack all things therapeutic letter writing. We’re talking emotional support animal letters, housing accommodations, FMLA, gender affirming surgery documentation—you name it. Whether you’re brand new to writing letters or have been doing it for years, we’re breaking down what needs to be included, how to protect your license, and the key do’s and don’ts to keep in mind. If you’ve ever wondered "Should I be writing this?" or "What should I say?"—this one’s for you.
TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 Introduction and Host Introductions
00:38 Overview of Letter Writing in Therapy
00:59 Types of Letters and Their Purposes
01:26 Challenges and Concerns in Writing Letters
03:28 Guidance on Writing Emotional Support Animal Letters
07:27 Writing FMLA Documentation
10:18 Gender Affirming Surgery Letters
16:07 Ethical Dilemmas in Writing Letters
19:09 Court Summaries and Custody Plans
21:34 School Accommodations Letters
22:10 Discussing Military Deployment Letters
22:52 Writing Return to Work Letters
24:13 Bariatric Surgery Letter Considerations
26:02 Adoption Process and Therapy Letters
29:32 Emotional Support Animal Letters
32:42 Workplace Accommodations and Letters
37:03 Tips for Writing Effective Letters
42:55 Conclusion and Resources for Clinicians
The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.
Miranda Barker, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.
The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from Ellie Mental Health. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. #therapy