Emotional support animals (ESAs) continue to be a popular treatment for stress, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and a plethora of other mental health disabilities.
While emotional support animals can help, you can’t just say that your pet is an ESA and experience the benefits of one. In fact, you can only get the protections offered by the Fair Housing Act (FHA) if you have an ESA letter.
The good news? You don’t have to see a therapist in person to get one; you can get one online through telehealth. In this guide, we cover how to get an ESA letter online.
What Is an ESA Letter?
If you or a loved one wants to live with an emotional support animal, you need to have an ESA letter. These are letters that outline your mental health disorder, why you need a support animal, and some details about support animals.
In order for an ESA letter to be legitimate, it needs to be signed by a licensed mental health professional (LMHP). What’s more, the letter needs to be signed by a LMHP in your state. If the letter is signed by someone outside of your state, it’s not valid.
With an ESA letter, landlords can’t discriminate against you, evict you, charge pet fees, or otherwise prevent you from living in one of their rental properties.
How to Get an ESA Letter Online
To get an ESA letter online, there are a few steps that you need to follow. We cover each step in detail below.
1. Choose an Emotional Support Animal
If you don’t have a pet already, you’ll need to choose an emotional support animal. Any species can become an ESA. We recommend a cat or a dog for the best results, although hamsters, fish, snakes, rabbits, and other small animals can also help.
Ultimately, the best ESA is the best animal for your unique situation, so keep that in mind before making your selection.
Already have a pet? Skip this step.
2. Choose an Emotional Support Animal Letter Provider
Now, this is where things get a little tricky. You need to choose an emotional support animal letter provider. There are lots of options out there, but you need to choose the best resources to avoid falling victim to scams.
The good news? We can help you there. We always recommend working with Emotional Support Animal for the best results.
3. Provide the Necessary Information
The next part of the process involves providing the necessary information to your ESA provider. You’ll need to fill out a few forms with your personal information, details about your condition, and why you feel ESA can help.
More often than not, you’ll also need to provide information about your animal and current state.
4. Schedule a Call With a Licensed Mental Health Professional
The next part of the process involves scheduling a call with a LMHP. Calls shouldn’t take too long, and you can do this via a phone or even through a video call. Ultimately, it depends on your preferences and the platform.
On this call, you’ll need to go into detail about your situation, so be prepared for that. Thankfully, you’ll know if you qualify by the end of the call.
5. Wait for Your ESA Letter to Arrive
If you were approved for an ESA letter, now it’s a matter of waiting for it to arrive. Online copies should be available almost immediately, and you may be able to get them in less than 24 hours. That said, official letters may take a few days to arrive at your door, so keep this in mind when applying.
It’s also important to note that some states, like California and Louisiana, require you to maintain a professional relationship with a LMHP for 30 days before you qualify for an ESA.
Preparing to Get an ESA Letter Online
Now that you know how to get an ESA letter online, it all comes down to choosing the right resource and being prepared.
We always recommend working with Emotional Support Animal, and it helps to have the pet you plan on getting the letter for prior to your telehealth appointment. That said, as soon as you’re ready, the process is as simple as filling out the necessary online forms.