Emotional support animals (ESA) are essential companions to many, and it’s important that your ESA is officially recognized if you are going to take advantage of certain protections. In order to separate your ESA from a regular pet, an ESA letter is required. However, only some qualified individuals can prescribe ESAs and write these letters. Our article tells you what to know about ESA letters and whether or not your therapist can write an ESA letter.
What Is an ESA Letter and Who Qualifies?
An emotional support animal (ESA) letter is an important document that shows your companion animal is a valid ESA and necessary to support your mental health condition or disability. Any individual with a mental health condition that impacts their daily life and requires some support and companionship from an animal can qualify for an emotional support animal. These animals are different from service animals, and they are not trained to complete disability-related tasks. Instead, the help they provide comes solely from the routine, comfort, and support their presence brings.
What Can I Do With an ESA Letter?
When you have a valid ESA letter, you can request housing accommodations. These accommodations are protected by the federal Fair Housing Act and most state laws. Under these protections, you can live with your emotional support animal in any area of suitable housing without adhering to any breed or pet restrictions that a landlord has in place. You are also not required to pay any pet rent, pet fees, or additional deposits to secure housing with your ESA.
Can My Therapist Write an ESA Letter?
Your therapist can write you an ESA letter – in fact, a therapist is the perfect person to write your letter if they are licensed in your state. Both state and federal laws generally recommend that the prescriber of an ESA letter is a mental healthcare provider licensed in your state; a therapist or psychologist fits this description.
If you cannot find a therapist to speak to about your desire for an ESA, your primary care doctor may be willing to prescribe your ESA and write you a letter instead. Always check with state law to make sure this is an acceptable solution.
Obtaining an ESA Letter: Basic Steps
Obtaining an ESA letter is, fortunately, a fairly straightforward process. We give you the basic steps for getting an ESA letter below:
- Schedule an appointment with your doctor or a mental healthcare provider licensed in your state; local therapists are your best option for your ESA letter needs.
- Speak about your needs with your therapist. Your provider will evaluate your condition, provide a diagnosis when necessary, and approve or deny your ESA request.
- If your ESA request is approved, your therapist will write you a letter stating your need for an ESA in addition to other details, like the name of your animal and their qualifications.
- Once you have your valid, signed ESA letter, you can use it to request housing accommodations.
Keep in mind that states have varying rules about how long you must know your therapist and which details need to be included in your ESA letter. Always double-check state requirements to ensure your ESA letter is valid.
Can My ESA Letter Ever Be Denied?
Your ESA letter may be denied in some cases, but the circumstances surrounding the denial are generally rarer. For example, your ESA letter may be denied if your animal is incredibly destructive or dangerous, or if their presence on a property is causing significant financial strain on the landlord.
Your ESA could also be denied if it is an illegal animal, an exotic animal, or an animal that can’t be properly cared for in your chosen housing unit. For instance, you could not request ESA accommodations for an animal like a fox or miniature horse within a small high-rise apartment unit, but you could potentially bring a miniature horse onto a property you are renting that has outdoor space supporting their care.
Validating Your Emotional Support Animal
Emotional support animals are incredibly important companions for many people. However, without a valid emotional support animal letter, your companion will most likely be treated as a pet. To take advantage of federal and state-protected housing accommodations, you must obtain a valid ESA letter to show that your companion animal is more than just a pet. Speak to your doctor or a mental health care provider for more information on adding an emotional support animal into your life.
