[Antiessentialist]

In the course of attempts to garner surgical approvals from HIP for SRS at Mt. Sinai and BA and FFS at Montefiore, I've become concerned that my therapist is an LCSW and not a Ph.D. psychologist, and that the letters written were only hers and not accompanied by matching letters from a psychiatrist with an M.D. If this is typically insufficient for approval in a broad variety of jurisdictions, it may be worthwhile to pursue surgical approval letters from alternative venues whose letter-writers are better credentialed and coordinated with psychiatric physicians. It would be the most helpful if those who've sought approval of insurance coverage for transition surgeries from HIP in New York most particularly could comment on what's needed; however, information regarding the demands that must be met of the mental health professionals' credentials to obtain transition surgery insurance coverage approvals in other jurisdictions may also be helpful.