Emotional Support Pet or ESA Letters

Need a letter?

For ESA Letters we write them for dogs, hamsters, birds and cats only. Our fee for an ESA Letter for non-insured clients is the cost of a self-pay session. We would complete after conducting a session. If the session takes additional time, you will be charged for two self-pay sessions.

Situations of two sessions for an established client usually occurs when you are needing extra time for various counseling needs or couples, family therapy.

Emotional Support Animal vs. Therapy Animal vs. Service Animals

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are animals that provide their owners with relief from emotional distress related to mental health concerns or psychological disabilities. ESA pets do not require specialized training, but they should not be aggressive to people or other pets and should have basic obedience skills down.

A Licensed Mental Health Provider in the state where you live must provide a letter. At Mental Health Rescue we provide this letter for established clients.

If you have insurance that we are contracted with we provide the letter at no fee it is provided complimentary as part of your mental health treatment goals and support for established clients. Meaning you are a regular client obtaining mental health treatment with Mental Health Rescue and need this letter to help you in your mental health care.

Emotional support animals are not typically permitted in most public spaces—such as grocery stores or restaurants even with an ESA letter, unless the business provides entry for all types of pets.

Therapy animals are a different term which refers to usually dogs trained in outpatient treatment centers, hospitals, and schools—to support therapeutic work with other people not for you. These animals are selected for their calm temperament and must complete a specialized training to earn a special certification from a recognized therapy dog organization.

Service animals are another term given to dogs or miniature horses that are trained by a professional dog or horse training company or can also be self-trained by you.

These Assistance Animals can assist with disabilities that are physical or for psychiatric diagnosis’s where the animal can be trained to recognize when you need help or when danger can negatively provoke your disability and help you. The dog or miniature horse is trained to detect specific cues and to take action.

A common word used on Formal documentation for reasonable accommodations to have a Service Dog or Miniature Horse is that it is: TASK TRAINED a Medical Device or an essential aid not a companion.

If you are needing help with a Service Dog, please navigate to the Menu bar and click on Service Dog for more information.