How I Got My Emotional Support Animal and What You Should Know Before Getting One

As a person with a psychological condition, I’ve always had a furry friend by my side to make me feel less lonely. But as I got older, I had to go through a proper channel to get my own support animal. If you’re wondering what the process looks like, you’ve come to the right place.

What is an ESA?

Before we get started, let’s talk about the basics. An ESA (Emotional Support Animal) is an animal that is prescribed to an individual by a licensed mental health professional, to help alleviate the negative symptoms of their mental illness.

Step 1: Consult with a Mental Health Professional

The first step in getting an Emotional Support Animal is to consult with a licensed mental health professional who can verify your psychological condition and the need for an ESA. This can be a therapist, psychologist or psychiatrist who you have been seeing for a while, and that knows you well enough to understand how an ESA would benefit you. They will usually ask you to fill out a short questionnaire before a scheduled appointment.

Step 2: Obtain a Letter from your Mental Health Professional

Your mental health provider will verify your condition during the consultation, after which they will issue a letter, on their official letterhead or official stamp, which will declare that you require an emotional support animal to help alleviate your symptoms. The letter should clearly state the type of animal you require, and how that animal will be beneficial.

Step 3: Choose an Animal

Now that you have your clearance, the next step is to choose an animal that would suit your needs. It might be your current pet, or it might be a new one. And that letter from your mental health provider will help you avoid any ‘pet rent’ fees with your new landlord.

Step 4: Training and Registry

Training an animal to be an ESA comes next. Training helps your animal understand your specific triggers and symptoms and create a unique bond between you and your ESA. You can choose whether to register your animal with a reputable registry organization or not, and you don’t necessarily have to.

Conclusion

The process of getting an emotional support animal starts with consulting with a licensed mental health professional who will issue you with an emotional support animal letter to verify your psychological condition. The letter should state the type of animal you require and how the animal will benefit you, and the following steps would be to choose your animal, get training and register with a registry organization (if you want to).

Remember, an ESA is not a substitute for professional psychiatric care or a cure for a mental health condition but can help alleviate some of the adverse effects of said condition.