How to Get an Emotional Support Dog Letter

To make your dog your official emotional support animal, you need a signed ESA letter from a healthcare professional. That might sound like a lot of work at first, but getting an emotional support dog letter really just involves three easy steps: 

1. Find a licensed healthcare professional who’s qualified to write ESA letters
2. Complete an evaluation to see if an ESA would benefit your mental health
3. Receive your ESA letter and understand how to use it

Let’s break down each of these steps so you know exactly what to do. 

Step 1: Find a Licensed Healthcare Professional

The first step is finding the right professional who can write an ESA letter that landlords will accept. Not just any healthcare provider can write an ESA letter — it needs to come from someone who is qualified to evaluate whether an emotional support dog is right for you. 

Who can write ESA letters? These professionals include:

• Psychologists
• Psychiatrists
• Licensed counselors
• Licensed clinical social workers
• Mental health nurse practitioners
• Physicians 

Let’s talk about two pathways to connect with a qualified mental health professional:

Option A: Work With Your Current Therapist

Already have a mental health professional in your corner? Great! This is often the smoothest route to an ESA letter.

During your next appointment, bring up how you believe an emotional support animal could help with your specific challenges. Paint them a clear picture: “On days when my anxiety spikes, having a companion who offers unconditional support would help ground me,” or “When depression makes it hard to maintain routine, caring for my dog gives me purpose.”

Be ready for some thoughtful questions — this isn’t just about getting a piece of paper; it’s about finding the right support for your mental health. Your provider wants to ensure they’re recommending what’s truly beneficial for you.

Did you get “no” for an answer? Don’t worry, a lot of providers aren’t familiar with ESA documentation, or their workplace doesn’t allow for them. If yours hesitates, it’s not necessarily a “no”. They might just need more information or prefer to refer you to a colleague who regularly handles ESA evaluations.

Option B: Use an Online ESA Letter Service

Traditional therapy isn’t accessible for everyone. Maybe your schedule is packed tighter than a subway car at rush hour, or perhaps in-person appointments trigger your anxiety. Whatever the reason, online services have made ESA evaluations more accessible than ever before.

When shopping for an online provider, look for these quality markers:

• Verifiable credentials: The ESA letter they give you should be from a licensed healthcare professional who has a license number you can look up. 
• Strong track record: Check the site’s reviews to see what past clients have said about getting an ESA letter from them. 
• Clear understanding of regulations: They should know emotional support dog requirements like the back of their hand.

Remember, an online evaluation that results in an ESA letter is every bit as legitimate as one obtained while sitting on a therapist’s couch. 

Step 2: Complete an Evaluation

Now comes the heart-to-heart part of the process — having an honest conversation about your mental health needs.

Whether you’re sitting across from your therapist or connecting through a call, the evaluation follows a similar path. You might discuss:

• Your current mental health symptoms and challenges
• How do these challenges impact your daily functioning
• Previous treatments you’ve tried
• How do you believe an emotional support animal could specifically help you

Remember, this isn’t an interrogation — it’s a collaborative exploration. The professional isn’t looking for you to “prove” anything; they’re working to understand if an ESA is genuinely appropriate for your situation.

Some conditions that commonly benefit from emotional support animals include:

• Anxiety disorders (that knot in your chest that won’t unravel)
• Depression (when even small tasks feel mountainous)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (when the past keeps intruding on your present)
• Panic attacks (those moments when your body’s alarm system goes haywire)
• Phobias (fears that limit where you can go and what you can do)

Be prepared to explain how your furry companion helps ground you during anxiety spikes, offers unconditional love on the darkest days, or motivates you to maintain routines when depression makes even getting out of bed feel like climbing Everest.

Step 3: Receive and Use Your ESA Letter

Congratulations! If your mental health professional determines that an emotional support dog would genuinely benefit your condition, you’ll receive that all-important ESA letter.

Your letter should include:

• The mental health professional’s letterhead (their professional “signature line”)
• Their license number and actual signature (proof of legitimacy)
• The date of issue (freshness matters — like milk, these do expire!)
• A statement confirming you have a qualifying condition (without necessarily disclosing private details)
• Their professional recommendation for an emotional support animal

Your ESA letter turns your beloved dog into a recognized emotional support animal with important housing rights. Under the Fair Housing Act, even buildings with strict “no pets allowed” policies have to make reasonable accommodations for your emotional support dog. No more choosing between your mental health and your home address!

Other benefits include:

• Exemption from pet deposits and monthly pet fees 
• Protection from breed and weight restrictions (yes, even for your gentle giant of a dog)

Remember that before moving in with your emotional support dog, you’ll need to share your letter with your landlord and get their sign-off. One other detail that’s easy to miss: ESA letters aren’t lifetime passes. It’s a good idea to get them renewed every year so the mental health professional can back up your letter if your landlord reaches out to verify it. 

Get Your ESA Letter in 3 Easy Steps

Click Here to Get Your ESA Letter