Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters

 Emotional support animal (ESA) letters are documents provided by mental health professionals, to individuals who have a diagnosed mental or emotional disorder. These letters certify that having an emotional support animal is part of the individual's treatment plan and is necessary to alleviate symptoms of their condition.
The ESA letter typically includes:

Confirmation of diagnosis: The letter confirms that the individual has been diagnosed with a mental or emotional disorder recognized in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or equivalent diagnostic criteria.

Recommendation for an emotional support animal: The letter states that the mental health professional recommends an emotional support animal as a component of the individual's treatment plan to provide therapeutic benefits.

Description of the animal's role: The letter explains how the emotional support animal contributes to the individual's emotional well-being by providing comfort, companionship, or other therapeutic support.

Necessity for housing or travel accommodations: If the individual requires accommodation for housing or air travel with their emotional support animal, the letter may specify this need in accordance with the Fair Housing Act (FHA) or the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA).

It's important to note that ESA letters are distinct from service animal certifications and do not grant the same rights or privileges. Emotional support animals do not require specialized training like service animals and are primarily intended to provide comfort and support to individuals with mental or emotional disabilities in the context of housing and air travel accommodations.