An emotional support pet is an animal that provides comfort and support to people dealing with various mental health challenges. While they aren’t technically considered service animals like guide dogs, emotional support pets can still improve their human companion’s emotional well-being. In this post, I will go over getting an ESA letter for a fictional person who wants to have their pet be an emotional support dog because they have taken a new job in a new city and need to find an apartment to allow the dog to live there. I also provide a fictitious example of a person hoping to get an emotional support cat. Any animal that can provide help with a diagnosed mental health challenge can be an ESA.
My page about Emotional Support Animals has even more information about the process of ESA Assessments. I always provide a brief screening to ensure you have an excellent chance of qualifying before you pay for this evaluation. However, I cannot make any guarantees until I get to know you.
Emotional Support Dog Example
Here is a fictitious example of an emotional support dog and how her human companion got an ESA Letter.
Emotional Support Dog Step One: The Emotional Support
Meet Bella, a golden retriever who emotionally supports her owner, Sarah. Sarah struggles with anxiety and depression, and despite being a successful and well-regarded lawyer, she finds it challenging to cope with daily stressors and some longer-term challenges in her family life. Sarah has an opportunity to work in a new city and is quite excited about the opportunity.
After an initial search for apartments, she realized it might be hard to find a place close to the new work that would allow her to have Bella with her. She contacted me to get an emotional support dog to help her manage her mental health. After an initial consultation, I told Sarah she would likely qualify for an ESA letter.
In her interview, Sarah tells me that Bella can sense when Sarah is feeling overwhelmed or anxious. She provides comfort by snuggling up to Sarah, gently nudging her, or sitting quietly by her side. Bella’s presence helps Sarah feel calmer and more grounded, especially during moments of heightened anxiety or sadness.
Beyond Emotional Support
Beyond anxiety support, Bella also encourages Sarah to engage in regular exercise and outdoor activities. They go for long walks in the park together, play fetch, and enjoy the fresh air. These activities benefit Bella’s physical health and contribute to Sarah’s overall well-being by boosting her mood and reducing stress. Having Bella by her side gives Sarah a sense of companionship and unconditional love. Knowing that Luna is always there to provide comfort helps Sarah navigate life’s challenges with greater resilience and confidence.
Sarah and Luna form a strong bond built on trust, understanding, and mutual companionship—a bond that enhances Sarah’s mental well-being each day.
Emotional Support Pet Step Two: The Diagnosis
Not everyone who benefits from the companionship of an animal qualifies for an emotional support pet. You also need to have a psychological diagnosis that creates a significant challenge in your life. Thus, before Sarah can get an ESA letter, I need to assess her for a diagnosis that would qualify her to have an emotional support dog like Bella.
I evaluated Sarah’s symptoms, history, and overall functioning to determine if having an emotional support pet would be beneficial for her mental health. Given her level of anxiety, her constant worries, and the fact that these symptoms have been constant for much of her adult life, I find that she has an anxiety disorder called generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).
Emotional Support Pet Step Three: The Combination
It’s important to note that Sarah’s diagnosis alone may not be sufficient to qualify for an ESA letter. I need to determine that having an emotional support pet would contribute to her well-being. As described in step one, it is easy to connect Sarah’s diagnosis with her relationship with Bella. I can see how much her emotional support dog would help her overcome or reduce some of her symptoms.
I am happy to provide Sarah with an ESA letter, which verifies the need for the animal and allows for certain accommodations in housing and travel situations. She can use it to fly to the new city with Bella right next to her and to get an apartment near her work that may otherwise not allow pets.
Emotional Support Cat Example
Emotional support pets can, of course, include cats. Cats provide comfort and companionship to individuals with mental health challenges. Here’s an example of when I might write an ESA letter for someone with a cat.
Emma and Her Cat, Luna
Emma has been diagnosed with anxiety and depression. These conditions often make it challenging for her to navigate daily tasks, maintain social relationships, and find joy in activities she once loved. Emma’s therapist recommended getting an emotional support pet to help manage her symptoms. Emma decided to adopt a cat, Luna, from a local shelter. Luna quickly became a source of comfort and joy in Emma’s life.
Emotional Support Cat Step One: The Emotional Support
Whenever Emma feels anxious, petting Luna and hearing her purr has a calming effect. The rhythmic motion and the sound of purring help lower Emma’s heart rate and reduce anxiety levels. Luna’s playful antics and affectionate behavior bring smiles and laughter to Emma’s day, helping to lift her mood and reduce feelings of depression. Caring for Luna provides Emma with a sense of purpose and routine. Feeding, grooming, and playing with Luna allow Emma to get out of bed and stay active.
Luna offers unconditional love and companionship, which helps Emma feel less lonely. Having Luna around makes Emma feel supported and understood, even when human interaction feels overwhelming. Taking Luna for walks (on a leash) or having friends who enjoy cats has opened up opportunities for Emma to engage in conversations with other pet owners, helping improve her social skills and reduce social anxiety.
Emotional Support Pet Step Two: The Diagnosis
Not everyone who benefits from a cat’s companionship qualifies for an emotional support pet. You also need to have a psychological diagnosis that creates a significant challenge in your life. Thus, before Emma can get an ESA letter, I need to assess her for an appropriate diagnosis that qualifies her for an emotional support cat like Luna.
I received a letter from her therapist, which helped to jump-start our process. I also evaluated Emma’s symptoms and history and found that she has a depressive disorder called dysthymic disorder. This diagnosis will qualify her to have an emotional support cat.
Emotional Support Pet Step Three: The Combination
Emma’s diagnosis alone was insufficient to qualify her for an ESA letter. I must also assess whether having an emotional support cat would contribute to her mental health functioning. This step was easy; it is evident that Luna was already helping her overcome some of her depressive symptoms.
I provided Emma with an ESA letter, which her landlord accepted. This example highlights how an emotional support cat can positively impact someone’s life by providing emotional stability, comfort, and a sense of purpose.
The ESA Letter
Having an emotional support dog or other pet can offer companionship, reduce feelings of loneliness, provide a sense of purpose, and even help alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions. However, it’s important to note that emotional support animals are not granted the same legal protections as service animals, and their presence in certain places (such as restaurants or on airplanes) may not be guaranteed unless accommodations are made in advance.
Key Points to Remember About The ESA Letter
- An emotional support pet does not require special training to provide immense psychological benefits through companionship. There just needs to be a connection between the pet’s behavior and personality and the relief the human feels that helps an emotional challenge.
- To qualify for an ESA letter, a licensed mental health professional must determine that the animal is important to the individual’s mental health. This cannot be done without a face-to-face (even if virtual) assessment. It usually just takes one meeting.
- An emotional support pet is protected under certain laws, such as the Fair Housing Act, which allows them to live with their owners even in housing that does not typically allow pets. However, they do not have the same rights to public access as service animals.
My Work
Knowing how much joy, emotional support, and companionship animals can bring to humans, I am glad to provide emotional support pet evaluations. Getting an ESA letter is not terribly expensive, but I do not bill insurance directly for the service. However, your insurance company may reimburse you, and I will provide you with all the information you need to pursue that reimbursement. I go beyond the actual ESA letter, giving you ideas and suggestions for having your companion animal help you address your challenges.
The ESA letter you receive will not be specific to your current pet, though it may be specific to the type of animal. For example, in the first example above, I would have said that Sarah qualified for an emotional support dog. In the second case, Emma qualified for an emotional support cat, but without being specific about the current animal.
If you are considering getting an emotional support dog or other pet, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me anytime or schedule a consultation. We can discuss whether an ESA letter would benefit your situation and help you understand the necessary steps for obtaining the appropriate documentation.
