How to Talk to Your Mental Health Provider About an ESA

Bringing up the topic of an emotional support animal with your therapist or psychiatrist can feel daunting. Here are some tips to help you have a productive conversation.

Before Your Appointment

Take some time to reflect on how your animal helps you. Consider writing down:

• Specific symptoms your animal helps with (anxiety, depression, loneliness, panic attacks)
• How your daily routine improves when your animal is present
• Any reduction in symptoms you've noticed since having your animal

Starting the Conversation

You don't need to use formal language. A simple approach works best:

• "I've been thinking about how my pet helps with my mental health."
• "I've noticed I feel much better when my animal is around. Could an ESA letter be appropriate for me?"
• "I've read about emotional support animals and I think it could help my treatment."

What Your Provider Will Consider

Your provider will evaluate whether an ESA is clinically appropriate based on:

• Your diagnosis and current treatment plan
• Whether an ESA provides genuine therapeutic benefit
• Whether the animal is part of a reasonable treatment approach

Don't Have a Provider?

If you don't currently have a mental health provider, ESA Crew can connect you with a licensed professional for an evaluation. Start your assessment today to begin the process.