Emotional Support Animal Letter

 I provide comprehensive Emotional Support Animal (ESA) evaluations for individuals seeking housing-related reasonable accommodations under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) in both Texas and Louisiana. 

My evaluations are trauma-informed, clinically thorough, and aligned with HUD’s Assistance Animal Guidance (FHEO-2020-01). Each assessment focuses on understanding your mental health needs, evaluating disability-related functional limitations, and determining whether an ESA may offer meaningful therapeutic benefit.

ESA evaluations are not therapy, and receiving an ESA letter requires meeting specific legal and clinical criteria. Because each state holds different standards for the client–provider relationship, I follow the regulations and ethical requirements of each licensing board to ensure every evaluation meets the highest level of compliance and professionalism.

Texas ESA Evaluation Requirements

In Texas, ESA letters may only be written for individuals who are active clients engaged in ongoing mental health treatment.

This means:

• You must be a new or current client receiving counseling services with a completed comprehensive intake and a minimum of 2 follow-up sessions (total of 3 sessions).
   
• ESA evaluations cannot be done as one-time or “stand-alone” assessments without an established therapeutic relationship.
   
• I must conduct a clinically appropriate assessment as part of your existing treatment plan to determine whether an ESA would help alleviate symptoms of a mental health disability.
   

Texas LPC rules and BHEC standards require that ESA letters be based on clinical familiarity, ongoing treatment, and accurate assessment, ensuring strong alignment with ethical guidelines and state expectations.

Louisiana ESA Evaluation Requirements

Louisiana allows licensed clinicians to conduct stand-alone ESA evaluations, meaning you may receive an ESA assessment even if you are not an ongoing counseling client.

However, a clinically appropriate evaluation is still required, which includes:

• Reviewing mental health history and current symptoms
   
• Assessing mental health disability-related functional impairments
   
• Evaluating whether an ESA would provide therapeutic benefit
   
• Verifying Louisiana residency
   

While Louisiana does not require an ongoing therapeutic relationship for ESA documentation, the evaluation process remains thorough, evidence-based, and consistent with HUD and LPC Board standards.