To get a PSD letter, the first step is to connect with a licensed healthcare professional. A licensed healthcare professional helps someone establish whether they have a qualifying disability for purposes of owning a psychiatric service dog. Owners of psychiatric service dogs have special legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Act (FHA), [...]
For many of us, 2020 has taken a heavy toll on mental health. The pandemic, which has isolated us like no other time in our lives, has highlighted the importance of intimate connections with others and accessible mental health services. Just when it was needed the most, the option to seek help from mental health [...]
In short, no. Veterinarians cannot write an ESA letter because veterinarians are not specifically and legally qualified in the fields of mental health to make that judgment. Only a licensed mental health professional such as a Licensed Social Worker, Psychologist, or Psychiatric. Now, here’s the longer explanation as to why that’s the case: A client [...]
The fact that more and more therapists and licensed mental health professionals are recommending Emotional Support Animals to their patients is a real testament to the therapeutic benefits they provide. And unlike a certified Service Dog, an ESA can be of any species, so if you are a person that is allergic to the traditional [...]
Emotional Support Animals, by definition, aim to provide comfort and companionship to alleviate mental health issues by their presence, working on an individual scale. Studies have shown some of the benefits of companion pets. According to one study, conducted a study where college students where observed in their cardiovascular behavior in their interaction with dogs. [...]
Therapy Animals have more training than emotional support animals but are typically trained to interact with multiple people. Deployed as stress-relievers, they often are seen in hospitals, airports, and college campuses. Usually, these animals are used in “animal-assisted therapy” in nursing homes and help build rapport between a therapist and a child. Their public access [...]
Emotional support animals can come in all shapes, sizes, and species, unlike service animals, which have primarily fallen into the capable paws of the canine species. Although under the American's with Disabilities Act (ADA) any species of animal can be considered an ESA, the problem with Pit Bulls does not lie with this organization, but [...]