Why Some Therapists Won’t Write ESA Letters
Some therapists are reluctant to write these letters because there have been lawsuits against therapists who write ESA letters by landlords who don’t want to be forced to allow pets in their buildings. There is also the possibility of legal action brought by someone harmed by a pet who is living in a building or flying on a plane only because of the ESA letter. Other therapists worry about doing something which could potentially cause them to risk losing their license. For others they may feel they don’t know client well enough after one or two sessions to properly assess whether they meet the criteria to get an ESA letter. An effective ESA letter requires showing how the emotional support animal will mitigate the symptoms of the client’s diagnosed psychiatric condition. This is not generally something a therapist can determine in a single session.
What Kind of Therapist to Look For
If you don’t have a current therapist and are not interested in starting therapy and eventually asking for a letter, you will have to do some leg work. Remember, you will need a licensed therapist. This can include a licensed clinical social worker, licensed counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist. This means that someone who is pre-licensed like an LSW, LPC or a medical student or resident, they can’t write an ESA letter. A life coach also can’t write a letter for you. This person has to be licensed in the state you reside in. Some therapists are licensed in multiple states.
Google Search
You can start with a Google search for a therapist who will write an ESA letter. Your search might include phrases like ESA letter and LCSW therapist. Some therapists include the fact that they write these letters in their marketing or biographical information, so they should be easy to find when you search. You can try ESAClinic for an easy and fast online process.
Referrals and Websites
You can also find a therapist in the same way you’d find a therapist for another purpose. Start by asking your primary care physician for a referral. You might also look on the Psychology today or Good Therapy websites. Zoc Doc is another resource for finding therapists. Most hospitals have a referral line which can give you the name of a therapist. But there is no guarantee that these therapists will write an ESA letter. So, this can be a time-consuming process of identifying therapists and then contacting them to ask if they write ESA letters. It’s a good idea to let them know that’s what you are looking for so you know ahead of time if it’s worth the time meet with them. In some places therapists are so busy that some don’t respond to all the inquiries they receive, which can be frustrating.
Word of Mouth and Internet Communities
You can also find a therapist who will write an ESA letter using less traditional sources. Asking friends and family can also sometimes be helpful, if you feel comfortable doing that. You can do a search or post a question on an internet community or discussion boards like Reddit about providers who write ESA letters. Or try Facebook groups for people struggling with mental health issues or for those who have an ESA. While this is not an ideal way to find long term therapist, it can be an effective way to target therapists who will write ESA letters.
ESA Letter Companies
The internet is overflowing with websites which promise a low cost, quick ESA letter. If you are going to use one of these companies, read their information carefully and be prepared to ask questions. First be sure that the person who is writing the letter is a licensed therapist. If you have their name, you could search them on your state’s professional licensing board to check that they have a license such as an LCSW or LCPC. If you don’t have a name, ask the company to guarantee your letter is written by a licensed professional. Also make sure the person writing the letter is licensed in the state where you reside. If you use the letter for your housing, it’s very likely your landlord will also be checking this information..
Be sure to read any reviews of the company or website you are thinking of using and Google the name to see if anything negative comes up about them. If a company offers to write a letter really fast or for super low fee, this could be a red flag.
Also be sure to ask questions to make sure you are getting legitimate and effective letter. You will want a letter which is on professional letterhead and includes the providers license type and number and contact information. Some other important elements of the letter include your full name, the date, the fact that you have a psychiatric diagnosis (but without specifying the type of diagnosis), how the condition impacts your daily life and ability to function and how the ESA will mitigate this. The letter should also indicate that you are under the therapist’s care and that having an ESA is a part of your treatment. A legitimate therapist is going to require more than one session to be able to write a letter which includes all these components.
Finding a therapist to write an ESA can take some resourcefulness but can be worth the effort for those struggling with mental health symptoms.
