Emotional Support Animals

Are you wondering about getting an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) or just want to know more about what they are?

Animals have been used in clinical treatment of humans since the 1940's (at least according to modern records).

A 2018 study conducted by BioMed Central Psychiatry concluded that pets do provide benefits to people suffering from mental illness. They not only help the individual manage their condition, but they're also useful in times of crisis.

Emotional Support Animals are not to be confused with Psychiatric Service Animals, which are dogs that are specifically trained to perform tasks and assist an individual with a severe mental illness in a variety of ways.

An official ESA authorization used to grant you more legal benefits like being able to take your dog on an airplane, but legislation has changed in just the last few years. Currently, an ESA document only grants you the right to have an animal in a residential location where the property owner would not otherwise allow one. Keep in mind that an ESA is not a service animal which means you still cannot take your animal where pets aren't allowed, like retail stores.

Requirements for an ESA:

If you...

• Are suffering from anxiety, depression, or PTSD
• Have a pet that alleviates the symptoms of your mental illness
• Rely on your pet for comfort or affection
• Believe that your pet may qualify as an Emotional Support Animal
• Would like to have your pet evaluated to become an ESA

I am fully supportive of animal-assisted therapy and ESAs and believe we could all connect more with nature! However, please note that I am careful not to approve ESAs for just anyone; I have turned people down before. If therapists were to approve everyone, it would be an abuse of power and ESA laws would not be taken seriously, defeating the point of getting an ESA.

But if you sincerely feel like you qualify, let's talk! Please note that I am not going to simply "prescribe" an ESA to you in just a few minutes like a physician would prescribe medications. I require that you see me at least two sessions before I will sign a letter because I want to be sure we are not abusing ESA privileges.