Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters

Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters at Genesis Family

Emotional support animals are growing in popularity, as evidence-based research supports the unique healing that animals can facilitate for certain individuals. ESAs are animals that provide emotional benefits to their owners and can be used to help individuals overcome challenges in life. 

Due to the benefits of ESAs, many individuals are now obtaining them, yet may face obstacles in allowing these animals to accompany them in their day to day lives. Therefore, individuals often request ESA Letters, issued by mental health professionals, to support their clinical need of having an ESA in their life (e.g., at home, work, stores, etc). 

At Genesis Family, we provide ESA assessments and letters with the following conditions: 

• In order for a therapist to accurately and ethically assess an individual’s need of an ESA, we require 6 sessions minimum between the therapist and client. Sometimes a therapist may need more sessions to make a definitive evaluation. It is never less than 6 sessions. 
• We do not guarantee an ESA letter will be awarded, just because an individual presents to therapy. While the process often does result in an ESA Letter, the therapist must make a clinical and ethical decision to only award the letter when deemed appropriate.