Psychiatric service dogs

Psychiatric Service Dog Letters

Connect with a state-licensed mental health professional who can document a psychiatric disability — the foundation for a psychiatric service dog under the ADA.

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Start Your ESA Letter Evaluation

Free pre-screening · You’re only charged if a licensed mental health professional approves you.

Understanding Psychiatric Service Dogs

A psychiatric service dog is a service animal under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Like other service dogs, it is individually trained to perform tasks directly related to a person’s disability — for example, interrupting harmful behaviors, guiding a disoriented handler, providing deep-pressure stimulation during a panic episode, or reminding a person to take medication. Because it is task-trained, a PSD has public-access rights that an emotional support animal does not.

Where a licensed mental health professional’s letter fits in

What a licensed mental health professional can provide is documentation of the underlying psychiatric disability — a condition that substantially limits one or more major life activities. This letter supports a housing accommodation and helps establish your disability-related need. It does not, by itself, make a dog a service animal: the defining requirement is the dog’s individual task training, which you arrange and which can take several months.

PSD vs. ESA at a glance

An emotional support animal helps through companionship, requires no special training, and is protected for housing only under the Fair Housing Act. A psychiatric service dog is task-trained and protected under the ADA with full public access. Many people start with a licensed mental health professional’s evaluation to understand which fits their situation.

Pricing

Emotional Support Animal Letter

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ESA Letter — $149Fair Housing Act–compliant housing letter from a state-licensed mental health professional.
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ESA Letter & ID Card — $199Housing letter plus an optional convenience ID card.
Book your ESA appointment

Psychiatric Service Dog Letter

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PSD Letter — $149Recommendation documenting a psychiatric disability.
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PSD Letter & ID Card — $199PSD recommendation plus an optional convenience ID card.
Book your PSD appointment
More than one pet? Add each additional animal for +$60. We may authorize your payment method, but you are not charged unless a licensed professional approves you.

How it works

Complete a short, free pre-screening, then meet by phone or video with a mental health professional licensed in your state. If a psychiatric disability is documented, you receive a signed letter — typically within 10–15 minutes of approval. There is no charge unless you are approved.

Start Your Evaluation

No hidden fees · HIPAA secure · Pay only if approved.

Important: No registration, certificate, ID card, or vest is legally required for a service dog, and none of those make a dog a service animal. Public-access rights come from the dog’s task training, not from any document.

Psychiatric Service Dog FAQs

What is a psychiatric service dog?

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A psychiatric service dog (PSD) is individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a psychiatric disability — such as interrupting a panic attack, providing grounding, or reminding a handler to take medication.

How is a PSD different from an ESA?

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An emotional support animal provides comfort through its presence and is protected for housing only. A PSD is task-trained and, under the ADA, has public-access rights. Training, not paperwork, is what defines a service dog.

Do I need to register or certify my PSD?

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No. There is no legal requirement to register or certify a service dog, and no ID card or vest is required. Beware of services selling “official” registration — it has no legal value.

What does a PSD letter do?

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A PSD letter from a licensed mental health professional documents that you have a psychiatric disability that substantially limits a major life activity. It supports housing accommodation and can help establish your need, but the dog’s task training is what grants public access.

How much is a PSD letter?

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A PSD letter is $149, or $199 with an optional convenience ID card. Each additional animal is $60. You are only charged if a licensed mental health professional approves you.

Ready to start your ESA evaluation?

Begin with a free pre-screening. A licensed mental health professional takes it from there — and you’re only charged if approved.

Start Your Evaluation