Many of us struggle in today’s busy world. We may feel stressed, overwhelmed, anxious, or even depressed. These emotions are normal from time to time and often pass within days or even hours. However, if you experience persistent negative feelings that hinder your daily activities, it’s best to seek help.
If you enjoy the company of animals and have the means to support one, part of your road to wellness may be to enlist the aid of an Emotional Support Animal.
In this post, we will explore how to find a therapist for an ESA letter so you can be eligible for the benefits of having the furry support you need. If you already know that an ESA would benefit you, you can complete the questionnaire in the link below to get help from a licensed mental health professional.
Emotional Support Animal ≠ Service Animal
There is often confusion when it comes to how Emotional Support Animals are categorized. In the eyes of the law, an ESA is not the same as a Service Animal. Service animals are canines that are individually trained to perform a task for a disabled individual. These tasks can vary in degree but are always used as a physical tool to aid the person (i.e., opening doors, guiding, alerting to an oncoming medical condition, etc.).
An ESA, on the other hand, can be of any species and is there purely to help comfort and calm an individual suffering from emotional issues (i.e., phobias, anxiety, depression, etc.). These types of animals do not require any specialized training.
Emotional support animals are protected in housing just like service dogs are. ESAs must be allowed in no-pet buildings and are exempt from pet fees and deposits. ESAs are also exempt from pet size and weight restrictions.
Getting a Legitimate ESA Letter
To have a legitimate Emotional Support Animal, you must first obtain a letter from a licensed mental health professional. These types of doctors and professionals include;
- LMHC
- LMFT
- LCSW
- LPC
- Psychiatric RN
- Psychologist (PhD or PsyD)
- Psychiatrist
- Psychotherapist
- Mental health counselor
- Physicians
Your licensed mental health professional (LMPH) will assess your condition to see if it corresponds to one of the documented conditions laid out by the DSM IV or V.
Common conditions that qualify for an ESA include depression, anxiety, PTSD, and ADHD.
Click here to get started on qualifying for your ESA letter.
What Does an ESA Letter Require?
Legitimate ESA letters conform to the following standards:
- Written on your LMHP’s letterhead
- Establish that you have a mental health disability
- Recommend an emotional support animal to help alleviate symptoms of that disability
- Contain the LMHP’s license number
- Contain the LMHP’s signature and date
You can find an example of what an ESA letter looks like at this link.
*(LMPH = licensed mental health professional)
How Do I Find a Therapist Near Me for an ESA Letter?
Option 1: If you don’t currently have a therapist, you can try asking your general practitioner for a referral or contacting your health insurance carrier to find providers that are in-network. Your GP can help assess your mental health needs and direct you to the type of therapist you could most benefit from (e.g., a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, counselor, etc.). You can also search for local therapists online using a directory for mental health professionals.
Option 2: Many people, unfortunately, do not have a current doctor or therapist to turn to. Or, their existing provider may be unfamiliar with emotional support animal procedures. If you’re having trouble finding a therapist who provides ESA letters, your best option is to use a service provider like ESA Doctors. ESA Doctors saves you the time and headache of finding someone qualified to write ESA letters.
ESA Doctors works with independent healthcare professionals who are licensed for your state. These mental health professionals specialize in ESA letters so you can get the help you need. Best of all, the entire process is handled remotely, so you never have to make any in-person office visits.
Conclusion
The advent of online remote mental health services has been a game-changer for those afflicted with mental illnesses. Before, finding the right professional for an ESA letter could feel like searching for a needle in a haystack.
With ESA Doctors, it’s never been easier to connect with a compassionate mental health professional knowledgeable about emotional support animals and can provide you with a legitimate ESA letter.
Complete the ESA questionnaire to connect with a therapist near you:
Get the Love and Support you deserve!
You may find these articles helpful:
I need a doctor/therapist to sign a verification form for my need of an ESA , my GP lives a state away and my therapist no longer takes my insurance so they won’t do it. Can one of the ESA doctors do so?
Yes, the LMHPs we work with will stand by their letters and verify them with landlords. To get started, please click here: https://app.esadoctors.com/checkout/
Will certification of my support animal protect me if my landlord owns one house and is not using a real estate professional? Or is that exception final ?
Landlords who rent a single family home without the use of an agent are exempt from HUD’s requirements. However, your state may have its own ESA rules that cover you. In addition, many landlords will accommodate ESAs even if they don’t technically have to as a courtesy.
Does the ESA Professional writing the letters have to be licensed in the state I live in?
Yes, the mental health professional that is evaluating your need for an ESA and recommending an ESA must be properly licensed in your state. That is one way to differentiate legitimate providers of ESA letters online from scam services. ESA Doctors will always match clients with LMHPs that are currently licensed in their state.
I Have a question: Are there any laws that state my ESA doctor has to be from the same city or “area” where I live? Can the doctor/licensed therapist live within the same state as me? What do I do if the property management wants a letter from a doctor who lives in my “area” when I have a letter from a licensed therapist who lives in my state?
Your property manager cannot dictate where your LMHP resides, especially if they are within the state your are residing in.
Are there any laws that state my ESA doctor has to be from the same city or “area” where I live? Can the doctor/licensed therapist live within the same state as me? What do I do if the property management wants a letter from a doctor who lives in my “area” when I have a letter from a licensed therapist who lives in my state?
How do I find an emotional support dog fully trained so that I can buy their ID and ESA letter along with them? Please help. Pressing matter.
Finding a fully trained dog may be difficult and/or expensive, but it is possible. If you do not have the funds for a fully trained dog, you can find a great support animal at your local shelter or rescue.
You can’t be sure that they won’t discriminate against you. Some people do not indicate their need for an ESA until after they have completed the leasing agreement.
I dont want to be discriminated against . How can I answer the question, IS MY DOG within weight limitations?
Emotional support dogs cannot be denied due to their age, weight, or breed. You can submit your ESA letter to your landlord and explain this to them.