An ESA letter is a necessary document for an animal to be legally considered an emotional support animal. This document is commonly used when a tenant is requesting accommodation for their emotional support animal, typically in situations when living in a no-pet housing.
Since it is a formal document, certain details on it are pretty much the same across all ESA letters. Although there can be minor changes, most ESA letters contain similar information, which is what we will discuss in this article.
If you’re asking yourself what an ESA letter looks like, continue reading to get all the answers you need. We will cover everything you need to know about ESA letters and what details these formal documents include.
What Is an ESA Letter?
First and foremost, let’s cover what an ESA letter is to understand these formal documents better.
An ESA letter is a formal document written by a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, licensed clinical social worker, or therapist. It is given to individuals with a psychiatric disability, confirming their condition and recommending them an emotional support animal as part of their treatment.
Instead of prescribing a medicine, however, the mental health professional recommends an emotional support animal as a therapeutic aid to help manage the individual’s condition. This may include easing symptoms of anxiety, providing a daily structure and routine for the owner, and offering companionship that motivates them to wake up in the morning.
In many ways, an ESA letter functions the same as a prescription, which is one of the reasons why a mental health professional must write it.
Is an ESA Letter Required for a Service Dog?
One question that many service dog handlers ask is whether or not they need an ESA letter. Unlike emotional support dogs, service dogs don’t need any documents or certification – the Americans with Disabilities Act is very clear about this.
If you have a service dog for a psychiatric condition, you do not need to obtain an ESA letter from your mental healthcare provider. Although you technically can get it if your mental health worker considers that it is necessary, you won’t get any added protections, as service dogs are already covered under the Fair Housing Act.
In fact, service dogs have more protections, as they are also covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Air Carrier Access Act, granting them public access and air travel rights.
What Does an ESA Letter Look Like? Discover Below
Now that you have a better understanding of ESA letters and emotional support animals, here’s more on what these documents look like.
The Patient’s Information
The ESA letter includes the full name of the individual receiving it. Some ESA letters might also include the patient’s date of birth for identification. ESA letters also mention that the individual receiving the letter has a mental disability that’s listed under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). However, the specific diagnosis isn’t disclosed to protect privacy.
The LMHP’s Information
Since only a licensed mental health professional can write an ESA letter, it includes their full name, professional title, license number, state, practice address, and contact information. This information is critical for ensuring the provider is currently licensed and for landlords and other entities to contact in case they need to verify the letter.
Purpose of the ESA
After the ESA letter confirms that the patient has a qualifying mental disability, it typically includes a note on why the mental health worker recommends an emotional support animal as part of their patient’s treatment, like alleviating symptoms of anxiety, providing emotional stability, and reducing feelings of loneliness.
Date & Signature
For an ESA letter to be valid, it must include the date the letter was written by the mental health professional and their signature. If obtaining an ESA letter through telehealth services, it is perfectly fine to have a digital signature. Some ESA letters also include an expiration date, typically one year from the date it was issued.
Legal References (Optional)
Optionally, some mental health professionals choose to include a short statement referencing the Fair Housing Act. Although it isn’t required, it strengthens the ESA letter’s clarity for landlords in situations where the patient is going to use it for requesting accommodation for their animal.
ESA’s Information (Optional)
The emotional support animal’s name, species, breed, and other details can also be a part of the ESA letter. Just like the above, it is optional. However, it can be helpful for landlords to match the letter with a specific animal.
Even though this isn’t required, many individuals request that their mental health worker include the details of their emotional support animal to have an easier time when requesting accommodation for their animal.
An Example of What an ESA Letter Looks Like
Now that you know what goes into one, here’s what an example ESA letter looks like:
To Whom It May Concern:
I am a licensed mental health professional currently treating [Patient’s Full Name and optionally, Date of Birth]. I have established a therapeutic relationship with the patient and am familiar with their mental health needs.
Based on my professional evaluation, the patient meets the criteria for a mental disability as defined under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). To help alleviate their symptoms associated with this psychiatric disability, I am recommending the use of an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) as part of their treatment plan.
The presence of an ESA provides significant therapeutic benefits, including reducing anxiety, providing emotional stability, and improving the patient’s overall daily functioning.
Please feel free to contact my office only to verify the authenticity of this letter.
Best regards,
[Signature]
[LMHP’s name]
[Professional Title]
[License Number and Issuing State]
How to Get an ESA Letter?
With everything we’ve covered above, you now know that only those with a qualifying mental disability can get an ESA letter from a mental health professional. However, this doesn’t mean that everyone with a mental disability is automatically eligible for an ESA letter.
It is entirely up to the individual’s mental healthcare provider to decide whether or not they would benefit from an emotional support animal. Emotional support animals are the same as any other animal that requires care at the end of the day. A mental health professional might come to the conclusion that the responsibilities of caring for an animal will add to their daily stress, negatively impacting their condition.
Therefore, there’s no guarantee in requesting and getting an ESA letter just because someone has a qualifying mental disability. Due to how critical it is to make the right decision for the patient, a mental health professional might require multiple sessions to determine the best outcome to ensure that an ESA is the best treatment option for someone.
Can You Get an ESA Letter Online?
Just as an online prescription would be valid, an ESA letter written by a mental health professional licensed in your state is also valid. To get an ESA letter online, you need to speak to a mental health professional through a telehealth service, as they are the only people who can write one.
We are one of the leading online ESA letter services in the nation, connecting individuals who think they would qualify for an emotional support animal with a mental health professional licensed in their state. If you want to explore emotional support animals as part of your treatment, start the process by completing our form online.
After a consultation call with a mental health professional who can write you an ESA letter, you will know whether you qualify for one. The best part is that if your ESA letter isn’t approved, you will get a full refund of your consultation call.
Answered: What Does an ESA Letter Look Like
We’ve covered what an ESA letter looks like for those who are wondering about it. Whether you’re a landlord trying to understand if the ESA letter your tenant presents is valid, or you have just received your ESA letter for the first time and want to make sure there are no missing details, you will find your answers above.