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.
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.
Schedule a session if you want to get started! The letter fee is $50.
How is an ESA different from a psychiatric service animal?
An ESA has much fewer legal privileges compared to a service animal, although many more people quality for an ESA.
A service animal is for more severe conditions. Unlike an ESA, the animal needs to be trained to help the patient with simple tasks, like a dog might put his paw on your leg to get your attention when you are dissociating.
There is such a thing as a psychiatric service animal, and I can sign off on them, but because they require more severe diagnoses and special animal training, I never have.
If you had a psychiatric service animal, you'd probably have a diagnosis such as PTSD, severe major depressive disorder, dissociative identity disorder, autism, or a panic disorder. You'd need to show that you can't function in society very well without the help of this animal. You'd also need to show that this animal has been properly trained to help you with your specific presenting symptoms.
If you had a service animal (psychiatric or not), you would be allowed to take it nearly anywhere, unlike an ESA.
If you believe you quality for a psychiatric service animal or an ESA, please schedule an appointment and we'll discuss it!