What is an Emotional Support Animal?
A common question that we receive at Santos Counseling is about understanding the emotional support animal letter and counseling service. It’s important to know that an emotional support animal does differs from a service animal.
Emotional Support Animals do not come with a specific type of training. ESAs provide emotional support to their owners in the area of lifestyle and mental health. According to U Mass medical school, emotional support animals provide a therapeutic benefit to persons with a mental health condition.
What Are Common Questions People Ask About ESAs?
What is an ESA?
ESA stands for an Emotional Support Animal. ESAs provide their owner with a therapeutic support aimed to provide relief to the mental health symptoms experienced.
What is the difference between an ESA and a service animal?
The ADA defines services animals differently than Emotional Support Animals. ADA includes examples of service animals as hearing dogs, psychiatric service dogs, and seizure response dogs.
How do I get an ESA letter?
Start by contacting our counseling office. The counselors at Santos Counseling hold specific training in the ESA clinical area. Click Here to learn more about the process of the ESA letter.
What is an okay reason to have an ESA?
Common reasons that people contact our counseling office for an ESA is when there are emotional challenges connected to a mental health condition that the ESA supports to alleviate.
If you feel that your pet provides you with emotional support then you may be a good fit for an ESA Letter. A person with a diagnosis of Anxiety Disorder can share that they struggle with the following emotional challenges:
- Negative thoughts.
- Problems focusing and concentrating.
- Worrying too much.
- Difficulty sleeping.
- Feeling anxious.
The symptoms listed above create negative challenges in the person’s life. Having their pet provides comfort and eases the stress or challenges that come from the symptoms.
How Can An ESA Help You In Life?
Emotional support animals can provide therapeutic support aimed to help with reducing unwanted symptoms
- Reduced anxiety: The presence of an ESA can help reduce anxiety symptoms. Such as anxiety attacks, stress, and to promote relaxation.
- Support with depression: ESAs can provide you with companionship, which can help to lower feelings of stress, loneliness, and isolation.
- Enhanced emotional stability: Having an ESA that offers consistent emotional support can help individuals cope better with the ups and downs of life.
If you feel that an ESA could improve your mental health, the first step is to connect with a counselor who is qualified to provide you with an ESA letter.
Finding an Emotional Support Animal Therapist Near You
At Santos Counseling, we proudly serve Greensboro, NC, and the surrounding Triad area, offering counseling services for kids, adults, couples, and families. We have counselors that can provide ESA letters in office as well as remote to anyone in North Carolina.
To obtain an ESA letter, you need to meet with one of the licensed mental health professional at Santos Counseling who can evaluate your mental health needs.
What Can I Expect During The ESA Process?
When you meet with a counselor at Santos Counseling for an ESA letter, they will:
- Evaluate Your Mental Health: Your counselor will assess your mental health condition and determine if an ESA is appropriate for you. This process will include testing, questions, and review of additional clinical items.
- Discuss the Benefits: Your counselor will explain how an ESA could specifically support you in life based on your mental health diagnosis and mental health history.
- Provide Documentation: If appropriate, your counselor will provide you with an ESA letter, which you can use for housing related purposes. Please know that working with a counselor does not guarantee an ESA letter. Our counselors utilize a specific evidence based approach to ensure that the ESA letter is appropriate.
