It’s a general assumption that only a psychologist, counselor, or psychiatrist can write an emotional support animal (ESA) letter. The word “emotion” leads to the belief that only a healthcare professional who deals primarily with emotional and mental concerns can write a letter for an ESA. The truth is that a family doctor, also known as a primary care physician or primary doctor, can also write an ESA letter. As primary care physicians work so closely with their patients, they may have the most knowledge about individualized treatments for their emotional or psychological needs.
In America alone, about 43.8 million people experience mental illness. Emotional disorders and mental illness are common, and treatments may involve talk therapy, medications, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and an emotional support animal.
- What is an Emotional Support Animal?
- What is an ESA Letter?
- What is a Primary Care Physician?
- Can a Primary Care Physician Write an ESA Letter?
- Who Else Can Write an ESA Letter?
- Why do I Need an ESA Letter?
- Know Your Rights
If you do not have a Primary Care Physician or cannot visit their practice, connect online with a licensed health professional for an ESA letter, click on the link below to get started.
What is an Emotional Support Animal?
An emotional support animal (ESA) is an animal that helps people who are struggling with a mental or emotional disorder. These animals provide companionship and comfort as part of a person’s mental health plan for their condition. An ESA may be used along with other therapies, such as medication, counseling sessions, and holistic treatments.
An ESA is protected under federal laws. Per the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an emotional support animal can accompany their owner while in residential housing—even in areas where pets are not typically allowed. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) prevents landlords from discriminating against people with an ESA. This means a person cannot be denied housing for needing an ESA, and they cannot be charged a pet fee or pet deposit.
What is an ESA Letter?
An ESA letter is an official document authored and signed by a licensed healthcare professional. It recommends an animal as part of a person’s ongoing mental health plan for their mental or emotional disorder. The professional writing the ESA letter must be licensed in the state of the client’s residence.
The ESA letter must be written on the physician’s official letterhead and must have the following information:
- Physician’s license number
- License expiration date
- Letter issued date
- Physician’s contact information (This is for the landlord or airline to verify the letter)
What is a Primary Care Physician?
A primary care physician is what most people think of as their family doctor. The primary care provider (PCP) or primary care physician treats common medical problems. A PCP is generally the professional that a person sees the most often and follows their care for a long time. Most PCPs are doctors, however, a PCP can also be a licensed nurse practitioner or a licensed physician assistant. A primary doctor does the following duties:
- Identifies and treats common health problems
- Assesses a patient’s immediate and long-term needs and makes referrals and consultations as necessary
- Educates patients about preventative measures and healthy choices
Can a Primary Care Physician write an ESA Letter?
A family doctor or primary care physician can write an ESA letter for their clients if they are currently licensed. The doctor who follows an individual’s overall care would be knowledgeable about that patient’s need for an emotional support animal. Being familiar with a patient allows the doctor to confidently suggest an ESA as part of their patient’s treatment plan. All you have to do is ask your doctor if they believe an emotional support animal would benefit you with your disability.
Who Else Can Write an ESA Letter?
If your family doctor or physician is not able or unwilling to prescribe an ESA letter for you, there is still hope. You can find a local therapist who can help you either in person or online. The following licensed healthcare professionals can also provide an ESA letter for you:
- Licensed Social Worker (LCSW)
- Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC)
- Psychiatrist
- Psychologist (Ph.D. or PsyD)
- Registered Nurse
- Physician Assistant
Why Do I Need an ESA Letter?
As many individuals falsely claim their pets to be emotional support animals, many states have increased penalties for misrepresenting an animal as an ESA. A legitimate ESA letter from a licensed healthcare professional avoids having to incur fines or penalties. An ESA letter provides credibility to all ESA owners and animals, maintaining respectability and authority.
Know Your Rights
An ESA allows you to live and travel with your animal companion. However, it does not allow you the freedom to have your ESA with you in all public areas or retail environments. Although many establishments are becoming more welcoming of animals, they still have the right to ask you to leave—even if you have a valid ESA letter. Federal laws protect your ESA in your place of residence or during travel, areas where you would benefit from your ESA the most.
To summarize, an ESA letter turns your beloved pet into a legitimate emotional support animal, allowing you to live and travel with your animal as a means to alleviate your mental or emotional disorder. Your primary care physician can indeed issue an ESA letter. If you, or someone you know, might benefit from an emotional support animal, ask your family doctor.
Hi, I’ve lived in my townhouse for almost 4 years. I’ve had my adorable, emotional support pittbull, Medusa for 5 years. Now that management has changed they are telling me she is an unexceptable breed!! I have papers from my family doctor and counselor. So needless to say I fighting this until my lease is up.
I just think it’s ridiculous! Not only are the doing that to me, but I have a beautiful garden with some 4-5 ft lilies that they’re making me dig up,( not just me, but everyone who has flowers planted) and they raised my rent, when I renewed $240!! No wonder I need an emotional support animal!! Lol
Landlords cannot reject an ESA solely because it is a certain breed. Please see this post for more info: https://esadoctors.com/excuses-landlords-deny-emotional-support-animal/
Hi I’m 2014 I asked the owner of the property if I can have a cat she is strictly indoor. Now property management are managing the property and now want me to pay a monthly fee for my cat she is my emotional support animal what can I do.
You may find this article helpful: https://esadoctors.com/can-a-landlord-charge-pet-rent-for-an-emotional-support-animal/
I have a registered ESA animal but no letter is that acceptable for a landlord
No, you cannot qualify for an ESA by registering it, you need to have a letter from a licensed healthcare professional. Please see this article for more information: https://esadoctors.com/register-dog-emotional-support-animal/
The housing apartment I’ve applied to says their HOA does not allow animals for any reason, service or emotional. Tenants can’t have then, but owners can. How can I not jeopardize having my application passed over? What do I tell them, or show them, other than my letter?
You can try pointing out to them that ESA rights are protected by federal law, whether you’re a renter or owner. For more info, please see this link: https://esadoctors.com/hud-housing-rules-emotional-support-animals/
If I have an authorized letter from my doctor what is the next step? Do I need to register my dog somewhere with the letter now? Does he have to have a number? Or is my letter all I need? Thank you for your help.
You do not need to register an emotional support animal. An ESA letter is the only document you need to submit to your landlord for accommodation of an emotional support animal.
If I have a letter from my therapist and my physician that says they “recommend an emotional support animal” is that enough to get an ESA cat? My landlord says I have to fill out paperwork from her attorney before I can get the cat.
If your therapist has given you a signed ESA letter that meets HUD requirements, your landlord cannot insist on other forms.
Good Morning
Can I request/register my elderly father’s dog on his behalf?. My dad is soon to be 88.
Thank you
If you are looking to have a licensed healthcare professional assess your father for an ESA, please reach out to our support team at support@esadoctors.com and they will see how they can help facilitate that.
I hope the letter my APRN wrote for me is good enough for i had to pay a deposit on the dog i have now had another one but was told i had to get rid of it until i found out that i could make it my ESA and the other one i would like to do the same but the letter said animal not animals will that keep me from getting both of my dogs as ESA animals please answer asap.
Each emotional support animal must be covered by an ESA letter. Your landlord may be able to request additional documentation for your second ESA.
My question is, instead of having to pack a piece of paper all the time. Isn’t there something we can get to pack in our wallets or purses, just something small that won’t get damaged? Just asking
You don’t need to travel with ESA documentation since ESAs only have rights in housing. If you want to denote your animal as an ESA however in your residential building, you can look at getting items like vests, tags or ID cards.