Are you looking to get an emotional support animal (ESA)? Before you can start working with an animal, you must first understand what an ESA is and how to get one. This blog will cover the various steps that you need to take to get one.
Determine Whether You Will Benefit From an ESA
An emotional support animal is a type of animal that can help individuals with a disability. It can also be used to help individuals cope with various kinds of emotional distress and mental illness. Although the law clearly states that an ESA should only be sent by a licensed health care provider, it is still important to recognize why you could benefit from the assistance of an emotional support animal.
Discuss It With a Licensed Health Care Provider
Being able to acknowledge that you have a mental or emotional illness is an outstanding achievement, as it can be an incredibly challenging process for many. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma attached to mental illness, and many people avoid seeking help due to this. One of the best ways to get help is to talk to a therapist that has knowledge of emotional support animals.
This mental health professional will be able to write a valid ESA letter alluding to your eligibility for receiving this type of support.
Adopt an Emotional Support Animal
If you already have a pet, then it can serve as an ESA for you if you are approved for one. If you are not interested in adopting an animal but would like to learn more about an emotional support animal, you can reach out to a local rescue or shelter organization. Having a solid connection with the animal can help make it more effective in helping individuals with a disability.
Before you start working with an animal, it is important that you choose one that has the right temperament. This animal should be able to provide you with a sense of comfort and well-being during times of stress. Various types of animals can serve as an ESA, such as dogs, cats, and even birds.
Training Your Animal
Contrary to popular belief, ESAs do not require special training. While service dogs are allowed to have greater public access privileges, they will first be trained to perform specific tasks for disabled individuals.
Unlike service dogs, ESAs do not require special training to perform their duties as emotional support animals. They can be trained to behave appropriately in various situations. This means that even though an animal doesn’t need special training, it is still important that the animal is taught basic commands.