What is an ESA Letter?
An Emotional Support Animal letter is a document from a licensed mental health provider saying that your animal helps with a diagnosed mental health condition. Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords have to allow ESAs -- even in no-pet housing -- when you have proper paperwork from a qualified provider.
This is not service animal certification. You do not need to register your pet anywhere. You need a real letter from a real provider who has actually evaluated you.
How We Handle ESA Evaluations
We do not hand out letters without a proper evaluation. We assess your mental health to confirm you have a qualifying condition -- anxiety, depression, PTSD, or something similar -- and that an ESA makes clinical sense as part of your care.
If you are already a patient with an established diagnosis, this is simple. If you are new, the ESA evaluation is part of your first psychiatric appointment.
What to Expect
New patient visits are 45-60 minutes. We go over your history, your symptoms, and how an ESA fits in. If everything checks out, your letter is usually ready within a few business days.
Insurance and Payment
The evaluation portion may be covered by your insurance. The ESA letter itself has a separate fee not covered by insurance. We explain the costs before you schedule.
Avoid the Scams
If someone offers you an ESA letter online with no evaluation, no questions about your mental health, or from a provider not licensed in North Carolina -- be cautious. Landlords know what legitimate documentation looks like. Our letters come from licensed NC providers with full clinical backing.