What Is an ESA Letter?
An Emotional Support Animal letter is a document from a licensed mental health provider that confirms you have a qualifying mental health condition and that your animal provides therapeutic benefit. Under the Fair Housing Act, an ESA letter gives you the right to keep your support animal in rental housing that normally does not allow pets -- without paying pet deposits or extra fees.
An ESA is not the same as a service animal. Your animal does not need specialized training. What matters is the documented relationship between your mental health condition and the emotional support the animal provides -- things like reduced anxiety, improved mood, better sleep, and more consistent daily routines.
Our Evaluation Process
We take ESA evaluations seriously. Every evaluation involves a real clinical assessment with a licensed provider who reviews your mental health history, current symptoms, and how your animal fits into your treatment. We do not issue letters without a proper evaluation, and we do not guarantee approval before the assessment is complete.
This protects you. Letters from online services that skip the clinical relationship are increasingly rejected by landlords and property managers. Ours hold up because they are based on genuine clinical documentation.
What to Expect
If you are a new patient, we complete a full psychiatric evaluation first. If you are already being seen by us, the ESA assessment can be integrated into a regular visit. The process typically takes 30-45 minutes and results in a determination the same day.
Insurance and Payment
The psychiatric evaluation underlying the ESA determination is often covered by insurance. The letter documentation itself may have a separate fee. Contact us for specifics.
When to Consider an ESA Letter
If you have a diagnosed condition like anxiety, depression, or PTSD, and your animal genuinely helps you manage symptoms -- calming you down during panic, providing structure to your day, or reducing loneliness that worsens your condition -- an ESA letter may be right for you. This is especially relevant for renters in St. George where many apartment complexes restrict pets.