How to Get an ESA Letter From a Licensed Mental Health Physician?

How to get an ESA letter?

This is one of the questions that remain surrounded by ambiguities.

Patients suffering from mental health problems often find it difficult to get an ESA letter.

The simple reason for the same is ignorance and poor knowledge.

To make things worse, there’s also a lot of misinformation on the internet these days.

For instance, websites that lure patients into believing that ESAs require registration.

Frankly speaking, there’s no such thing as emotional support animal registration.

All you need is an ESA letter.

An ESA letter is an official document signed and stamped by a licensed doctor to help patients qualify for a domesticated animal company.

It’s given to the patients sheerly on the grounds of mental health disabilities after thorough and detailed sessions.

Sadly, there are several fake services out there, and even worse some people try to use the purpose of an ESA letter to their own advantage.

One of the major advantages is the privileges ESA owners are entitled to under the Fair Housing Act.

A manner to which many people have become accustomed, and they use it to their own advantage. Thus, marring the genuineness of an ESA letter.

So, to help you identify what’s real from fake, and to get you acquainted with the legitimate way of getting an ESA letter, here’s a short and crisp guide.

Also Read: Why ESAs Are Much More Than People’s Best Friend?

3 Easy Steps to Get an ESA Letter

Before we dive into the nitty-gritty of getting an ESA letter, here’s what you need to understand first.

First and foremost, watch out for red flags such as online services that say we provide ESA registration.

Second, do not pay before meeting a doctor. If the said service helps you meet with a legit doctor online or otherwise, only then can you trust them.

Third, look out for fake ESA letter signs.

For example, a letter without the doctor’s information and license no.

Once you watch out for all these warning signs, your road to getting an ESA letter will become easier.

Having that said, let us now take a look at 3 major steps on how to get an ESA letter.

Step 1 – Fill a Form Online

There are several services out there, but the legitimate ones require you to provide some basic information.

In other words, you have to begin the process by filling an application form containing a few questions, mostly about your mental health.

You will also need to submit proof of address and medical history along with the form.

For proof of address, you can submit your driver’s license no.

Once you have completed the form, it will automatically be submitted online.

Note: Make sure you fill in all the details carefully.

Also Read: How to Legally Certify an Emotional Support Dog?

Step 2 – Meet a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP)

Soon after form submission, you will be asked to wait in a virtual room until the doctor is ready to meet with you.

Ideally, the wait does not last more than 2-3 minutes.

In other words, within minutes you will be connected with a licensed mental health professional over a video call.

The video call will be thorough and detailed.

The doctor will ask you certain questions regarding your health and why do you need an ESA letter.

During the evaluation process, you can ask way any questions you have, tell the doctor why in your opinion an ESA is the best thing for you. Eventually, the doctor will determine whether an ESA can actually help you or not.

In addition to this. You also have to keep in mind that the consultation will last as long as you want it to be.

We also advise that you request an ESA letter from the therapist or psychiatrist medically supervising your condition.

This way, even in the worst-case scenario, you will have very few chances of walking the wrong lane.

Note: Take a few sessions with your therapist before getting an ESA letter. Most importantly, discuss with your doctor and explain to them how your ESA helps you cope up with emotional turmoil.

Related: Getting an ESA Letter? Here’s How to Find a Legit Provider

Step 3- Get Your ESA Letter

If the doctor deems it fit and understand the importance of a pet in your life, they will write you an ESA letter officially.

This means that upon qualification, you will receive a PDF copy of the ESA letter via email.

The letter will consist of the following:

• Patient’s name along with other medical details.
• The name of the dog and the reason behind getting an emotional support animal letter.
• License no. of the mental health professional
• Signature and stamp of the therapist or psychologist.
• Date of issuance and expiration (ideally, the letter is valid up to one year from the date of issuance. You have to get your letter renewed a week before the date of expiration.)
• The letter will be printed on the doctor’s letterhead.

You can download a copy of your ESA letter and certify your pet as an emotional support animal.

However, keep in mind that terms such as certification are used simultaneously to determine that you have an emotional support animal.

The actual way to put this accurately would be to say that you have an emotional support animal letter from an LMHP.

Note: You can get your ESA letter laminated to protect the document from exterior damage.