Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters in Miami, FL

Emotional Support Animal vs. Therapy Animal vs. Service Animals

Emotional Support Animals ≠ Therapy Animals ≠ Service Animals

Emotional Support Animals (ESA) are animals that provide their owners with relief related to emotional distress caused by mental health-related issues and psychological disabilities. Emotional support animals do not need specific training. However, they do have to be evaluated and approved by a mental health care provider as beneficial for an individual who has difficulty functioning on a normal basis without the emotional support animal. Unlike service animals, emotional support animals are not typically allowed in most public spaces such as grocery stores or gyms even with an ESA letter. That is unless you ask or have approval from the business.

Therapy animals are animals used in clinical settings. Such as in outpatient treatment centers, hospitals, and schools for therapeutic use. Therapy animals are selected for their temperament and undergo a training process to be obedient and calm. Therapy animals are accompanied by their handler in these clinical settings.

Service animals are animals used as aids for those with physical disabilities and limitations such as visual impairment. Service animals are trained to detect certain things; such as barriers for those with visual impairments. In addition to responding by performing an action for their owner; such as guiding them away from obstacles.

Image of a man hugging a golden retriever. Representing the type of bond that could benefit from having an emotional support dog letter. You can ensure that you can live with your animal with an ESA letter in Miami, Florida.

Best Qualities of an ESA

While emotional support animals do not require specific training, be mindful of characteristics fit for an emotional support animal. Certain characteristics can be more helpful than others to relieve and ease disabilities and stress. The desired temperaments and characteristics are animals that are:

  • obedient

  • loving

  • easy-going/social,

  • have an easy temperament.

How Would Obtaining an ESA Letter be Helpful?

Laws by the American Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA) are policies that recognize and ensure individuals with mental health issues are not discriminated against for having/needing an emotional support animal. ESA Letters for housing are certified proof of the need for an emotional support animal. Thus they allow individual rental housing regardless of pet policies that may be in place.

What Do I Need to do, or Can I Expect to Obtain an ESA Letter?

The first step is to book an intake appointment with a licensed provider at Miami Vibes Counseling Center. We ask that you meet with your provider for multiple sessions. So that they can appropriately assess the needs of you and your ESA. Your provider will then write an emotional support animal letter that highlights the diagnosis and any associated limitations.

Image of a woman walking along a beach with a dog. Representing how important emotional support animal letters are for those with mental illness. But you can stay close to your animal with a ESA letter in Miami, Florida.

Disabilities That Can Benefit From Getting A ESA Letter

There are a lot of therapeutic benefits to owning a pet. However, some people might benefit from an ESA more than others. Some of the top mental health issues and disabilities that can benefit from getting an emotional support animal letter include:

  • Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

  • Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)

  • Social Anxiety Disorder or Social Phobia

  • Panic Disorders

  • Phobias and Fears

  • Depression

Our emotional support dog letters are written by our licensed therapists. They satisfy the requirements of the ADA as well as the FHA. These ESA letters for housing allow emotional support animals to live with their owners.

*Please note that our therapists at Miami Vibes Counseling Center will write an ESA Letter for pets such as dogs and cats. However, we currently will not be writing letters for exotic pets at this time.

Are You Ready to Get A ESA Letter in Miami, FL?

Do you suffer from mental health issues or a psychological disability and rely on an emotional support animal? Are you needing an ESA letter for housing in Miami? If so, the mental health providers at Miami Vibes Counseling Center can help. Start the process of getting an emotional support animal letter by following these steps:

  1. Contact us to book an intake appointment

  2. Meet with a licensed therapist at our Miami-based therapy practice

  3. Receive your ESA letter

Image of a woman cuddling her cat on the couch. This shows the benefits of getting an ESA letter for housing in Miami. You can ensure you can continue living with your pet by getting emotional support animal letters.

Other Mental Health Services We Offer in Miami, Florida

At Miami Vibes Counseling Center we offer a variety of therapeutic services both in-person and virtually. With options for children, adults, couples, and families. Some of the techniques we use include ACT, CBT, Play therapy, and TFCBT. These can be beneficial for the treatment of anxiety, depression, stress, trauma, and PTSD. Additionally, we offer therapy for grief and life transitions. Our caring therapists can also support you with spirituality counseling and parent coaching.