Can My Psychiatrist Write an ESA Letter? Fetch All the Facts

If you’re struggling with mental health challenges, you may discover that few things can comfort and uplift you quite like the presence of an emotional support animal (ESA).

ESAs offer lots of mental health benefits, like easing anxiety and depression and helping you cope with trauma and stress. However, to enjoy the constant support of your furry companion no matter where you live, you’ll need to secure proper documentation—an official ESA letter confirming your need for this kind of animal.

If you’re already receiving care for your mental health, you might wonder, “Can my psychiatrist write an ESA letter?” To help you get the paperwork you need for your cuddly buddy, we’ll answer this question and clear up other common confusions around emotional support friends.

Can a Psychiatrist Prescribe an Emotional Support Animal?

The short answer is YES! Your psychiatrist can write an ESA letter.

Here’s the thing—the Fair Housing Act (FHA) protects ESA owners from housing discrimination by offering specific protections, including:

• Acceptance of ESAs in housing, even in properties with strict no-pet policies
• Exemption from pet rent, ensuring ESA owners aren’t charged extra monthly fees
• Waiver of pet deposits and fees, preventing additional upfront costs related to housing your ESA

However, to get these protections, the federal law requires you to get an ESA letter from a licensed mental health professional (LMHP)—and this category includes psychiatrists.

Now, just a heads-up—there are plenty of offers for easy online ESA “registration” and “certification” floating around the internet. When you’re in a pinch, getting one of these might seem easier than talking to your psychiatrist, but the truth is, these documents usually aren’t worth the paper they’re printed on.

Without proper consultation and an authentic ESA letter from a licensed professional, you might find yourself barking up the wrong tree when your landlord asks for proof.

Who Else Can Write an ESA Letter?

If your psychiatrist isn’t available or comfortable writing an ESA letter, don’t get your tail in a twist! There are other LMHPs who can also give your furry friend the official stamp of approval, including:

• Psychologists
• Primary care doctors
• Nurse practitioners
• Licensed professional counselors (LPCs)
• Licensed therapists
• Licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs)

Requirements for a Psychiatrist To Write an ESA Letter

For your landlord to accept your ESA letter from your psychiatrist, specific criteria need to be met:

1. Licensing in your state
2. Valid diagnosis
3. Proper letter details

Let’s discuss these requirements.

Licensing in Your State

The most important thing for getting a valid ESA letter is that your psychiatrist is licensed in your state. This is supposed to ensure your psychiatrist is familiar with and adheres to local ESA regulations, which can vary by state.

While the FHA is the primary law covering ESAs across the U.S., some states also have their own ordinances expanding on the federal rules and protections. For example, states like Montana, Louisiana, and California require an established patient-provider relationship before an ESA letter can be issued. This means you’d have to be seeing your psychiatrist for at least 30 days before they could give your furball the green light if you live in these areas.

Valid Diagnosis

A legitimate ESA letter must be based on a thorough in-person or telehealth consultation with your psychiatrist.

During your chat, they should compare your symptoms against the conditions outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), the gold standard that mental health professionals across the U.S. use to diagnose patients.

Common conditions that may qualify you for an ESA include:

• Anxiety disorders
• Depression
• Bipolar disorder
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Schizophrenia
• Chronic stress

Brief interactions, such as intake forms, phone calls, or text exchanges, aren’t enough for this kind of evaluation. If there’s no comprehensive assessment to determine your eligibility for an ESA, your letter won’t have all the bark and bite it needs to secure your animal buddy a home.

Proper Letter Details

The ESA letter should also include specific elements to meet the validity requirements:

How To Ask a Psychiatrist for an ESA Letter

When it’s time to request an ESA letter from your psychiatrist, here’s how you can approach the situation:

1. Start the conversation
2. Provide examples
3. Manage your expectations

Start the Conversation

At your next appointment, let your psychiatrist know you’ve been thinking about getting an emotional support animal (or multiple animals!) to help manage your condition.

Broach the subject gently and politely, without assuming you’re absolutely right in thinking an ESA is what you need—after all, your psychiatrist is the professional, and they know best what works for you.

Your job is just to put the idea out there and see whether your condition might qualify you, whether your psychiatrist issues ESA letters at all, and whether they are open to including a cuddly buddy in your treatment.

Provide Examples

Of course, your psychiatrist will need some more information to properly evaluate your situation, so you’ll need to explain to them why you believe an ESA would help you.

You can share specific examples to strengthen your case. For example, if you already have a pet you consider your ESA, explain specifically how they improve your daily life. You may say something like:

• “Having my dog around greatly reduces my anxiety in the evenings!”
• “My cat helps me break out of depressive episodes by giving me a sense of purpose.”

On the other hand, if you don’t yet have an ESA but are considering getting one, explain why you believe having one could be beneficial, perhaps by referencing your experiences with animals belonging to friends or family. 

Remember how watching your friend’s dog excitedly wagging its tail at the smallest things reminded you to find joy in life’s simple moments? Or when another friend’s cat’s quirky personality kept you laughing on a tough day?

Don’t be afraid to share these stories with your psychiatrist. These real-life examples can help them identify the tangible benefits an ESA provides you and boost your chances of getting your ESA letter.

Manage Your Expectations

There’s no guarantee that your psychiatrist will consent to writing the ESA letter. For starters, not every psychiatrist is familiar with local and federal ESA guidelines or willing to write ESA letters.

And in some cases, the doctor could just have personal reservations. They might think your condition doesn’t qualify you for ESA treatment or that something else is a better option for you.

If this happens to you, don’t take it personally or let it discourage you. Remember, your psychiatrist is acting in your best interest based on their professional judgment.

What if My Psychiatrist Doesn’t Write Me an ESA Letter?

If your psychiatrist doesn’t write an ESA letter, it’s not the end of the world. You can reach out to a different psychiatrist or another mental health professional for a second opinion and help with getting the paperwork you need.

However, this approach comes with several obstacles, like finding a professional who’s available, willing, and qualified to provide an ESA letter. Scheduling issues can also arise, and in-person appointments—plus the waiting time after—can make the process feel like an eternity. Not to mention, the cost of multiple consultations can quickly add up, especially if you need letter renewals later.

Fortunately, you won’t have to jump through all these hoops if you get your ESA letter online.

The Online Route to Your ESA Letter

Turning to the internet in your quest for an ESA letter makes things far quicker and more convenient. Still, you’ll want to find a legit ESA website, as you may stumble upon a lot of fake ESA letter options online.

While there’s nothing wrong with trying to save a buck with cheap ESA letters, some online services skimp on crucial steps, like genuine consultations with real LMHPs. If you reach for one of those dirt-cheap or “free” letters or “free registrations,” you’ll likely end up with a letter that won’t be worth a dime when your landlord starts sniffing for its legitimacy.

But despite the bad apples, some online services care a great deal about keeping the whole process above board, like Your Service Animal. This service connects you with a vetted LMHP in your state through a secure online process.

Your Service Animal—A Fast, Easy & Valid ESA Letter

With Your Service Anima, the process of obtaining an ESA letter becomes quick, convenient, and stress-free. To save you the hassle of comparing healthcare providers, the service connects you directly with licensed professionals in your state who have all the right qualifications to evaluate your ESA needs—all from the comfort of your couch.

Here’s why Your Service Animal is the purr-fect choice:

How It Works

Ready to get started? Here’s how simple it is:

1. Find out if you’re a good fit for an ESA letter with our online quiz
2. Schedule an online appointment with a licensed mental health practitioner in your state
3. Attend the online call and receive your ESA letter if clinically appropriate
4. Receive a full refund if the therapist doesn’t issue an ESA letter or your landlord rejects your letter