Emotional Support
Animal Evaluation
At Castillo Psychotherapy & Counseling, we provide Emotional Support Animal (ESA) evaluations to determine whether the presence of an animal meaningfully supports your mental health and daily functioning.
These evaluations focus on understanding your symptoms, history, and current challenges to assess whether an ESA would provide therapeutic relief in areas such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, trauma recovery, or emotional regulation.
Understanding the ESA Evaluation Process
An ESA evaluation is a formal clinical process that results in a legally recognized letter for housing under the Fair Housing Act (FHA), when appropriate.
This is separate from service animal assessments and does not involve training the animal for specific tasks.
Key Components of the ESA Evaluation
Our evaluation includes:
Clinical Assessment
A detailed clinical interview exploring your mental health history, current symptoms, coping patterns, and functional impairments.
Animal Suitability
If you already have a pet, we may discuss the animal’s behavior, temperament, and appropriateness in housing settings (not for certification or training).
Disability & Impact Review
We assess whether your symptoms meet criteria for a mental health disability and whether an ESA would reduce the impact of these symptoms in a meaningful way.
FHA-Compliant Documentation
If criteria are met, you will receive a letter that includes clinician credentials, confirmation of disability (without listing your specific diagnosis), and a statement of ESA necessity for housing accommodations.
When an ESA Evaluation May Be Helpful
You may benefit from an ESA
assessment if you experience:
• Significant anxiety, panic, or hypervigilance that improves with an animal’s presence
• Persistent sadness, loneliness, or depressive symptoms
• Trauma responses such as nightmares, avoidance, or emotional numbing
• Difficulty regulating emotions or calming your nervous system
• Increased stability or comfort when interacting with your pet
• Challenges with sleep, grounding, or feeling safe when alone
• A sense of connection, structure, or emotional support from an animal
• Stress or functional impairments that affect daily life, work, or housing
ESA evaluations are appropriate for individuals who already have a pet providing comfort or those considering whether an animal could support their emotional well-being.
How an ESA Evaluation Helps
Our evaluation process integrates clinical assessment, functional impact, and emotional needs to ensure that an ESA would provide genuine benefit. Potential outcomes and benefits include:
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Supporting emotional stability and regulation
5
Supporting grounding, loneliness, or sleep difficulties
2
Reducing symptoms related to anxiety, panic, depression, or trauma
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Improving daily functioning and ability to manage stress
4
Increasing feelings of comfort, safety, and connection
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Providing a nonjudgmental source of companionship
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Helping reduce avoidance or improve participation in daily activities
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If criteria are met, you may qualify for an FHA-compliant ESA letter that
supports housing accommodations without pet fees.
What to Expect in the First Session
Your first ESA evaluation session is a calm, structured conversation designed to understand your mental health needs and how an animal currently supports you or could support you.
During this session, we will:
• Review your mental health history, symptoms, and challenges
• Explore how an animal impacts (or could impact) your emotional well-being
• Discuss daily functioning, stressors, and areas of impairment
• Clarify what type of support an ESA might provide
• Begin determining whether an ESA is clinically appropriate and beneficial
• Outline the steps needed to complete the evaluation process
By the end of the session, you will understand whether you may qualify for an ESA letter and what additional information or sessions may be required.
Our goal is to ensure the evaluation is ethical, thorough, and aligned with both your emotional needs and legal guidelines.