What is an Emotional Support Animal?

According to California state laws, an emotional support animal (ESA) is defined as an animal that provides companionship, emotional support, and a sense of well-being and safety to its owner thereby aiding in the treatment of one or more mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression. ESAs are not considered pets by California laws but as animals that can assist with a person’s mental health condition (which California defines as a disability). Emotional support animals differ from service animals in that, they are not specifically trained in performing specific acts to accommodate someone’s mental health condition.

Many people find that having an ESA can greatly benefit them both at home and in places where pets are not typically permitted (e.g., college housing, apartments that do not allow pets and depending on policies restaurants and airplanes). Individuals experiencing a number of emotional symptoms find that the comfort and safety an ESA brings them can significantly reduce symptoms or allow for completing tasks that they wouldn’t have without the help of the animal. Emotional support animals are recognized under fair housing regulations and travel regulations,

Assessment process and Fees

The assessment process for an ESA letter must take place over the course of several visits with a licensed clinician across a period of time of 30 days or more. Typically, you will meet with the clinician for three assessment sessions including an initial evaluation and clinical interview, administration of the standardized tests required by California, and a feedback session covering results and the letter if one should be written.

Fess are $575 per assessment/animal

It is very important to note that participating in the assessment process does not, in any way, guarantee an ESA letter written on your behalf for you and your animal. ESA letters are only provided when all requirements set forth by CA state laws and regulations are met (see below for these regulations).

However, regardless of meeting the requirements for a letter, at the end of the assessment process, you will be provided with feedback about your functioning that can be used for future treatment and information about your diagnosis if any applies. This may be valuable in understanding more about yourself, your contdition/symptoms, and ways to cope with those things that are interfering in your life.

Who is Eligible for an ESA?

Although a great number of people feel they benefit from having an animal or pet with them, not everyone is eligible to classify their animal as an ESA. The state of California has very specific requirements for those who may or may not qualify for an ESA letter for their animal.

State Laws Pertaining to California

California has been one of the more stringent states in regards to who can write a letter and the requirements that need to be met to obtain a letter from a qualified mental health professional. The state of California requires the following regulations be met for a letter:

You must have an established relationship with the clinician writing the letter of 30 days or longer prior to the letter being written
You must have a diagnosed emotional or mental health disorder (what is referred to as a disability) and your animal must be shown to have helped to ameliorate or lessen symptoms
An ESA letter may not be written for sole purposes of housing or travel allowances
You must have an assessed deficit in daily living skills and/or daily functioning that is directly helped by the animal as assessed through standardized measures and clinical interview