Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PSTD) is common for people with a history of abuse, physical or sexual assault, or military service. This can greatly impact their mental health and lifestyle. The primary treatment is counseling, but can also include medication or animal support.
If a traumatic event is affecting your life daily, it’s important to first see your doctor or mental health professional. You can also look into assistance animals as another form of treatment.
A psychiatric service dog can help to alleviate the symptoms of various mental health conditions like PTSD, depression, anxiety, and more. Find out the best psychiatric service dog letter services in this 2024 review.
What Is A Psychiatric Service Dog?
A psychiatric service dog is a well-trained dog that assists individuals with mental or emotional disorders. These dogs help their owners with a variety of tasks they may not be able to carry out on their own.
These tasks range from providing comfort and emotional support to their owners, waking the owner up, reminding them to take certain medicines, or promoting relaxation when the owner becomes anxious or goes into a panic attack.
Here are some other mental and emotional struggles a PSD can assist with:
- Hyperactivity Disorders
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Social Phobias
- Bipolar Disorders
- Autism
- Claustrophobia
Please note: only dogs qualify as psychiatric service dogs (PSDs).
What is a Psychiatric Service Dog Letter?
A PSD letter is an official document from a licensed healthcare professional such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, doctor, counselor, or social worker.
A psychiatric service dog letter serves as proof that the service animal is needed and helps its owner perform day-to-day tasks. It also confirms that the psychiatric service dog is a part of the patient’s treatment plan and alleviates common symptoms of the mental or emotional disorder.
Best Psychiatric Service Dog Letter for 2024
- ESA Pet: Best provider for psychiatric service dog letters overall
- CertaPet: Fast pre-screenings for psychiatric service animals
- Pettable: Large licensed mental health professional network
ESA Pet
ESA Pet can provide you with a psychiatric service animal letter quickly and easily. The service also helps with emotional support animal letters.
While it’s easy to confuse an emotional support animal (ESA) with a psychiatric service dog (PSD), they aren’t the same. Psychiatric service dogs are trained to assist with specific tasks and an ESA is a companion animal providing emotional support.
If you’re not sure which one is right for you, ESA Pet can help. ESA Pet analyzes your situation to determine whether you need an ESA or a PSD letter.
Plus, ESA Pet understands that your pet is essential to both your mental health and safety. As a result, they work with only experienced mental health professionals that will listen to your needs and issue a signed letter.
How Does ESA Pet Work?
Obtaining your PSD letter with ESA Pet is very straightforward. It only requires 3 steps.
First, you will complete a short, 2-minutes screening. This is a confidential assessment that helps ESA Pet determine whether you’re fit for an ESA or PSD letter.
Next, ESA Pet will set up an appointment with a licensed therapist in your state. The assigned mental health professional will further assess whether a PSD is the correct course of action for your treatment plan.
As soon as you’ve been approved, you will get your ESA or PSD letter within 24 hours.
Pros
- Simple and quick process
- Identifies which type of support you need
- The letter arrives within 24 hours after approval
- Offers free pre-screening assessments
Cons
- Individuals need to purchase a package before completing the process
CertaPet
CertaPet is another online platform providing letters for psychiatric service dogs and emotional service animals. They help US and Canadian citizens access mental health professionals that can help.
Their major focus is to provide services to people who need animal assistance. With CertaPet, getting a PSD letter is both convenient and affordable.
The platform has also helped over 65,000 pet owners get a consultation with a licensed mental health professional. CertaPet currently has more than 8,000 positive reviews across Google, Facebook, and TrustPilot.
Their professional approach makes them a highly recommended platform for service animals and more.
How Does CertaPet Work?
When an individual is diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder or any other mental health disability, they may want to get a PSD letter. While getting a PSA letter is generally known to be a daunting task, CertaPet makes it hassle-free.
CertaPet executes a series of screenings during the process of obtaining a PSD letter. This makes the procedure super easy and thorough. All you need to do is complete a quick questionnaire and speak with a medical professional.
Pros
- Makes it easy to obtain PSD letters
- Offers a free pre-screening service
- Provides different package options
- Facilitates access to mental health care in the US and Canada
Cons
- Only specializes in the US and Canada
- Takes 5 days to receive your PSA or ESA letter
Pettable
Pettable connect you with licensed healthcare professionals that will assist you in getting a PSD. With free pre-screenings, a fast and simple process, and a network of trusted therapists, Pettable is a great place to get PSD letters.
According to its website, the company is trusted by over 25,000 customers. The platform ensures the PSD letter you obtain is not only up to date but is issued by licensed mental healthcare professionals.
And if your PSD letter is not approved, Pettable will refund 100% of your payment.
How Does Pettable Work?
Pettable has a simple process that includes only a few main steps: a 3-minute online assessment and a consultation with a therapist.
Their medical professionals will contact you directly for consultation once you sign up. This consultation is a one-on-one conversation that helps to diagnose your condition and determine whether you qualify for a PSD letter.
Once approved, you will receive your PSD letter within 24 hours.
Pros
- Walks you through getting your PSD letter online
- Offers an instant full refund if you do not qualify for a PSD letter
- Only works with licensed mental health professionals
Cons
You must pay a fee before approval
How to Choose a Psychiatric Service Dog Letter Provider
There are many factors to consider when deciding which PSD letter provider to go for. If you’re still confused about which one is best for you, the first thing you need to consider is your location.
For instance, if you’re somewhere in the USA or Canada and don’t mind waiting for a few days, then CertaPet would be the right PSD letter provider for you.
On the other hand, if you’re short of time and need your PSD letter as soon as possible, opt for ESA Pet. It only takes 24 hours to get your letter with ESA Pet.
That said, Pettable is your best bet if convenience is your priority.
Most importantly, your PSD letter should come from a qualified mental health professional who is licensed to practice in your state.
How to get a Psychiatric Service Dog letter
If you struggle with a mental or emotional disability and need a psychiatric service animal, a psychiatric service dog letter is necessary to verify your condition so you can get everything you need.
For most online PSD letter providers, this process occurs in 3 steps.
- Complete a questionnaire or pre-screening
- Connect with a licensed mental health professional
- Get your PSD letter after approval.
To obtain a PSD letter, you will need to contact or discuss your mental or emotional health with a healthcare professional. He/She must be a licensed mental health provider who can write you a prescription for a properly trained dog to assist you with certain mental or emotional health conditions.
However, there are some scams and frauds on the internet that are easy to fall victim to, especially when it comes to psychiatric service dogs and emotional support animals. They offer fake certifications and swindle people of their hard-earned money. It’s important to be aware of this risk.
With so many psychiatric service dog letter providers on the internet, choosing the right one can be a quite daunting task. So, how do you find a trustworthy psychiatric dog service letter provider?
Don’t worry! We’ve got you covered. Whether you’re looking for a psychiatric service dog or an emotional support animal, we’ve provided 3 trusted psychiatrist service dog letter providers in this article (ESA Pet, CertaPet, and Pettable).
Benefits of a PSD Letter
Psychiatric service dogs perform a wide range of life-saving tasks that greatly benefit people who may be suffering from mental or psychiatric disabilities. They offer support in times of emergency or crisis, helping their owners live safely and comfortably.
However, these benefits only come when you obtain a PSD letter from a credible source. By selecting the right PSD letter providers, you can properly get the help of your psychiatric service dog.
There is no overstating the incredible benefits of owning a PSD. It can make a huge difference in your life. With a PSD letter, you can reap the following benefits:
- According to the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), you can fly comfortably with your PSD on certain airlines without paying pet fees.
- Live with your psychiatric service dog anywhere, including buildings where ‘no pet’ rules apply.
- Take your PSD with you to work.
- Bring your psychiatric service dog into some public places like restaurants, hotels, or malls.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can write a letter for a psychiatric service dog?
Licensed medical healthcare professionals are the only people qualified to write a psychiatric service dog letter. This could be a therapist, psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, etc.
Ask whoever is treating you for a disability or emotional disorder to write a PSD letter for you. If you don’t have a therapist, there are platforms with Licensed Mental Health Professionals you can reach out to and get your letter within a short period.
Just be careful so you don’t fall into the hands of internet fraudsters.
Do I need a PSD letter to fly with my dog?
Yes, you need either an ESA or PSD letter before flying with your assistance animal. You may also need to complete DOT’s Service Animal Air Transportation Form. This document certifies that your service dog is for a disability you currently struggle with. However, you must submit the form to the airline before boarding a flight with your PSD.
Luckily, many PSDs receive preferred treatment during travel. This means they are not bound by fees and size limitations that are applicable to other pets and pet owners.
Can my emotional support animal be a psychiatric service dog?
While you can train emotional support animals to become psychiatric service dogs, these two titles are not the same.
Admittedly, both PSDs and ESAs assist with similar emotional and mental health illnesses. However, a psychiatric service dog is specifically trained to perform certain tasks for its owner that they cannot do on their own because of their disability.
A dog that is not trained to help its owner with a specific task cannot be considered a psychiatric service dog. On the other hand, ESAs do not need special training and are not limited to only dogs. Other animals also qualify as ESAs like cats, birds, hamsters, miniature horses, and more.
What does a psychiatric service dog (PSD) letter look like?
One PSD letter may be different from another if they were written by different licensed mental health professionals.
Nevertheless, there are certain elements you will find in all PSD letters. They are important items that must be included in the document. For example, every PSD letter must:
- Be signed and dated by the licensed professional.
- Be on the licensed mental care professional’s letterhead.
- Include the licensed professional’s details such as contact information and address.
- Include the licensed professional’s remarks on whether or not you have a mental/emotional disability that qualifies you for a PSD.
However, it is not uncommon to find a disclaimer regarding the PSDs training verification on the PSD letter. This is because it isn’t the role of the licensed mental health professional to assess the dog on its training. It is strictly to evaluate the health of the patient.
Do I qualify for a psychiatric service dog letter?
Not everyone qualifies for a PSD letter. To be eligible for one, a licensed mental health professional must confirm that you have a qualifying mental or emotional disability.
The following conditions can qualify you for a psychiatric service dog letter.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- Certain Phobias
- Severe Anxiety
- Depression
- Autism
- Learning Disorders (such as ADHD)
- And more
If you qualify and are approved, the medical professional will then issue a signed PSD letter. This acts like a prescription for a certain treatment.
Best PSD Letter Services: Key Takeaways
PSD letter services, such as ESA Pet, CertPet, and Pettable, have made the process of getting PSD letters completely seamless and stress-free. The online experience is something you complete in the comfort of your home from start to finish.
These PSD letter services partner with licensed medical healthcare professionals who provide legit PSD letters. It’s super easy and super fast with these trusted platforms.
Any you provide remains private and highly confidential, so you don’t have to be afraid of sharing your personal details. And if it turns out that you do not qualify for a PSD letter, most of these PSD services offer full refunds.
With the information in this article, we believe you have all the guidance you need to make the right decision to get your PSD letter.