What Is an ESA Letter?
An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter is a document from a licensed mental health provider stating that you have a qualifying mental health condition and that an emotional support animal is part of your treatment plan. Under the Fair Housing Act, an ESA letter allows you to live with your animal in housing that otherwise restricts pets, without paying pet deposits or fees.
ESA letters are different from service animal certifications. An ESA does not need special training. It provides emotional comfort and stability to someone with a diagnosed mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other qualifying disorders.
Our Evaluation Process
We do not hand out ESA letters on request. Every ESA evaluation involves a genuine clinical assessment with a licensed psychiatric provider. We review your mental health history, current symptoms, and how an emotional support animal fits into your overall treatment. If you meet the clinical criteria, we issue the letter. If not, we will explain why and discuss other treatment options that may help.
This approach protects you legally. Landlords and housing authorities can challenge letters from online-only mills that do not involve a real clinical relationship. Our evaluations are thorough, documented, and defensible.
What to Expect at Your Evaluation
The evaluation takes about 30-45 minutes. We will ask about your mental health history, current symptoms, and how your animal provides emotional support. If you are already a patient with us, the process is often faster since we have your clinical history on file. If you are a new patient, we complete a full psychiatric evaluation first.
Insurance and Payment
ESA evaluations may not be covered by insurance as a standalone service, but the underlying psychiatric evaluation often is. Contact us to discuss your specific situation and costs before scheduling.
When to Consider an ESA Letter
If you have a diagnosed mental health condition and your pet or animal provides measurable emotional relief -- reducing anxiety, improving sleep, providing motivation to maintain routines -- an ESA letter may be appropriate. This is especially relevant for renters in Logan and Cache Valley who face pet restrictions in apartments near USU or downtown.