If you are trying to find a physician or other provider to write a letter so you can get a psychiatric service dog or PSD, first make sure you understand the difference between a psychiatric service dog and an emotional support dog.
An emotional support dog’s role is to be generally comforting to someone who experiences mental health related symptoms. The emotional support dog does not have to provide any specific type of assistance or do any specific tasks.
A psychiatric service dog performs specific tasks needed because of a person’s psychiatric condition. Psychiatric service dogs have more training than emotional support dogs. They are also often allowed in more places. Examples of what a psychiatric service dog might do include helping to ground or calm a person by touching or licking them or taking step to interrupt a panic attack or other psychiatric episode. The dog may help a person who is terrified of crowed places find an exit.
ADA Rules and Why People Get Psychiatric Service Dog Letters
The Americans with Disability Act or ADA does not require that a person get certified or approved to have a service dog. But people get psychiatric service dog letters because they often need one so their dog can be at their residence, place of employment, with them during travel or for other purposes.
You might also need the letter in order to get a trained psychiatric service dog for an organization which trains them. Note that the letter need not and should not state your mental health diagnosis as this is private information. It can instead it could state that you have a “life limiting disability.”
You do not need a specific type or severity of psychiatric diagnosis to qualify for a service dog letter. But you do need a psychiatric diagnosis. Ask for a letter on official letterhead and which includes the provider’s license number contact information.
Who Can Write a Psychiatric Service Dog Letter?
Once you have determined that a service dog is what you need and think you may be qualified for, you next need to locate a doctor to write your service dog letter. Be sure that the person writing the letter is a licensed medical provider.
This could include a medical doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner. You could also ask psychologist, licensed clinical social worker or licensed counselor.
Starting With Your Current Healthcare Provider
A good starting point is with your own primary care physician, psychiatrist or therapist who sees regularly and who you have a history of treating with. A provider who is familiar with your psychiatric condition and past treatment will be in a position to write the most compelling service dog letter.
Be prepared to explain to your doctor how you feel a psychiatric service dog can help with deal with psychiatric symptoms you experience. Some doctors are very familiar with how service dogs can be of use and when and how to write a service dog letter. Other doctors may require more information or persuasion.
Don’t be afraid to be an advocate for yourself. And do your research so you can effectively explain how a psychiatric service dog could be of assistance someone with your diagnosis and symptoms.
Finding a New Provider if Needed
If you do not have a doctor or if none of your providers are willing to write a service dog letter, you can try to find another provider. Ideally you want a provider who know about how psychiatric service dogs can be utilized.
Do a Google search for providers or groups which offer disability evaluations in your area, or https://esaclinic.com/ can help you. You might could also check out message boards or groups for people with your psychiatric condition in your area and ask if anyone has gotten a psychiatric service dog letter from a local provider.
Disability advocacy agencies or agencies focused on your particular mental health condition might also be worth asking. You could also ask organizations which train and provide service dogs for suggestions for provider who might be willing to write a service dog letter.
Scheduling Appointments and Preparing for Challenges
If you don’t find any leads on potential doctors, you can find a doctor the same way you would if you were looking for a new doctor or other provider for regular care. You can get referrals from friends and family, contact the referral line for your local hospital or try appointment scheduling websites like Zoc Doc or look on the Psychology Today website.
Be sure to mention that you are seeking a psychiatric service dog letter when you schedule so if this is something the provider will definitely not do, you can avoid wasting your time and money.
Potential Obstacles With New Providers
One challenge with going to a provider who is not you regular provider is that there can be long wait times to get appointments. A provider seeing you for the first time likely will be reluctant to write a service dog letter due to their limited knowledge of your medical history.
Or the doctor may be unfamiliar with the process and not willing to get involved. Because we live in a very litigious society, doctors tend to risk adverse and may turn down doing anything they think might have the slightest potential to cause them difficulties legally or put their license at risk.
Before the appointment you may want to get copies of your records to bring with you unless the provider is in the same medical system and will have access to your records.
Be Careful With Online Service Dog Letter Websites
Be cautious of websites which promise quick and easy service dog letters. You could end up with a letter which is does not meet legal requirements and does not qualify you for a psychiatric service dog.
They may also provide letters which are not prepared by a licensed provider. This can also be a waste of our time and money and can be exhausting and distressing.
Final Thoughts
Getting a psychiatric service dog letter can take some resourcefulness and effort. But many people who have these dogs report a positive impact on their mental health.
