An emotional support animal (ESA) letter is a requirement for anyone wishing to have their pet recognized as an emotional support animal. Whether you have a dog that comforts you with cuddles or you find it beneficial for your mental health to care for your bird, speak with your therapist to get an emotional support animal letter.
With your ESA letter, your pet will be protected under the Fair Housing Act, meaning that you can live with them in no-pet housing, whether you’re renting or the HOA restricts pets. Since only healthcare professionals can write this document, it is typical to ask, “Can my therapist write an ESA letter?”
If you’re wondering about the same, this article is for you. Read on to learn whether your therapist can write an ESA letter, along with other key details about emotional support animals and ESA letters.
Can My Therapist Write an ESA Letter?
Whether your therapist can write an ESA letter or not depends on their credentials. While most therapists can write an ESA letter, it is important to know your therapist’s license status and credentials to determine if they are legally allowed to issue an ESA letter. Below, we talk about which therapists can write an ESA letter.
Therapists That Can Write an ESA Letter
First and foremost, your therapist must be a licensed mental health professional in order for them to be able to write you an ESA letter. As long as your therapist fits this description and is licensed in your state of residence, they can write you an ESA letter without problems.
The list of licensed mental health professionals who can write an ESA letter includes:
- Psychiatrists
- Psychologists
- Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
- Licensed Mental Health Counselors (LMHCs)
- Licensed Counselors
- Psychiatric Mental Health Nurses
- Physicians (must know your mental health history)
If your therapist fits the above description, they can write an ESA letter. You can also reach out to them to know whether they can write an ESA letter.
However, note that whether your therapist can write an ESA letter or not, there’s a process for it. They must first determine if having an emotional support animal would benefit your condition – only then can they write and issue you an ESA letter. This means that your therapist must know you enough in order for them to write an ESA letter.
Can My Therapist Write an ESA Letter Online?
If you’re seeing your therapist online, yes, they can write you an ESA letter online. How you and your therapist conduct therapy sessions doesn’t matter for them to write an ESA letter. The law doesn’t require you and your therapist to be physically present in order for them to write an ESA letter.
As long as your therapist is a licensed mental health professional, they can write you an ESA letter online. In fact, you can get an ESA letter online from online services that connect you with a mental health professional licensed in your state. Compared to seeing a therapist in person and visiting their office, it is typically an easier way of conducting therapy and obtaining an ESA letter if deemed appropriate.
However, with many scams out there, make sure you’re working with a reputable organization like EmotionalSupportAnimal.com. Otherwise, you will risk paying money for an “ESA letter” that turns out to be illegitimate.
Can My Therapist Write an ESA Letter? Conclusion
When getting your ESA letter from your therapist, be sure that it includes your therapist’s license number, license type, contact information, along with the issuing state of the license and date. The letter must also be written on the official letterhead of the provider and state your need for an emotional support animal. Without these details, your ESA letter can be considered invalid.
Contrary to what some might think, ESA letters don’t require mental health professionals to detail the nature of their patients’ diagnosis or information about their emotional support animal. Even though ESA letters are basic documents, knowing these will ensure your document is valid and you can use it when needed, such as requesting reasonable accommodation for your pet from your housing provider.
