Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Letters for Washington State Residents
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If you’re a Washington state resident living with mental health challenges, the easiest way to get an emotional support animal (ESA) letter online is to meet with a state-licensed mental health practitioner. Pettable can connect you with the right licensed mental health professional (LMHP) familiar with both federal and Washington-specific ESA laws and schedule your telehealth appointment.
Answer a few questions about your ESA needs
We'll match you to a professional in your state
Receive it within 24 hours of getting approved *
We'll help with any extra forms you need signed and our therapists are available to talk to your landlord anytime, for an additional fee.
* For Arkansas, California, Iowa, Louisiana and Montana residents, new laws requires those seeking an ESA letter to establish a client-provider relationship with the individual for at least 30 days prior to providing documentation, which will result in having two consultations before qualifying.
In the Evergreen State, an emotional support animal (ESA) is any domesticated animal that helps its owner through their mental and emotional health struggles. Unlike a service dog, an ESA isn’t trained to perform any tasks specific to their owner’s disorder, but they provide support in the form of companionship or affection. However, an ESA isn’t limited to just dogs; cats, birds, hamsters, ferrets, lizards, and snakes can all qualify as long as they are domesticated and don’t pose a threat to you, others, or property.
Like many other states Washington State has mostly adopted federal regulations with respect to emotional support Animals.
Next we'll review each aspect of Washington State law that has to do with emotional support animals and help you get a sense of your rights as well as the benefits you can expect with having an emotional support animal in Washington State.
Washington State has adopted the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and protects the rights of emotional support animals when it comes to housing.
The FHA gives people with an emotional support animal the ability to live and keep their pet with them regardless of any rules or policies enacted by landlords. The reason this law exists is to help support people who suffer from a mental or emotional disability to live with their pet as they are a critical component of their mental health treatment.
While there are many trustworthy ESA letter providers, there are some companies that try to exploit unclear standards around assistance animals to defraud disabled individuals seeking out a legitimate ESA letter. If you see offers for ESA “registration” or “certification,” you have likely encountered a scam. There’s no state or national ESA registry nor a need for an official state-issued certificate for your assistance animal. Only a legitimate ESA letter — signed by a state-licensed mental health professional — is needed to support you when you apply for housing.
Unfortunately there is no law in Washington State that says you can take an emotional support animal to work with you. Unlike other states ESAs are not a protected class when it comes to bringing your furry friend to your workplace.
That said, many organizations are understanding of the need for an emotional support animal. As a result, we encourage you to connect with your HR team to see if they can make a reasonable accommodation for your ESA in Washington State.
To qualify for an ESA in Washington state, you must be diagnosed with a mental health disorder by a health professional such as a therapist, psychiatrist, counselor, or general practitioner. This can be done in person or online, but the professional must be licensed to practice in the Evergreen State. Qualifying conditions include:
The best way to find out if you qualify is through a telehealth marketplace like Pettable, which can connect you to professionals in your state with experience conducting mental health evaluations for support animals.
When you have an ESA, you have to take care of it daily, which establishes a routine that can distract from mental health challenges and improve your overall well-being. Whether you’re walking the dog or feeding your snake, your responsibility for the animal can improve your ability to care for yourself.
An ESA can support your mental health in a myriad of ways. For example, walking a dog daily encourages exercise and eases stress, while the company of an assistance animal can limit loneliness. Your ESA can also respond to changes in your mood, coming to your aid before you can harm yourself or others.
One of the biggest benefits of owning an ESA is the money you save compared to regular pet owners. Not only can you have your assistance animal in your rental home despite any “no pet” policies, but you are also exempt from pet rent, fees, or deposits. It’s your ESA’s way of chipping in on the rent!
If you are curious about how to get a psychiatric service dog in Washington State, check out our online PSD training program. Meeting the standards of all 50 states, our online service dog training program will teach you everything you need to know about how to train your very own psychiatric service dog. To find out if it's right for you, take our short assessment so we can determine your needs and offer you the perfect package of services for your specific needs.
Pettable boasts a well-connected network of experienced mental health specialists, available to assist you regardless of your location. They can issue an ESA letter, valid both within your state and across state lines. Whether it's addressing inquiries from a landlord seeking additional documentation, your dedicated Pettable mental health specialist is your reliable ally. Furthermore, Pettable's legal team stands ready to provide support, regardless of your current state.
1. ESA Letters That Work, Guaranteed
Your peace of mind matters to us, which is why we stand by our assurance that your letter will effectively serve its purpose, or we'll refund your money.
2. World-Class Mental Health Professionals
We've assembled a team of top-tier mental health professionals who can provide you with an ESA letter prescription that's guaranteed to be accepted wherever you reside in The United States.
3. Unmatched Customer Support
Navigating the process of getting your pet approved to live with you can be stressful. That's why we've heavily invested in a dedicated team of support specialists to ensure you receive the care and assistance you need.
4. Licensed Nationwide
Our extensive network of mental health professionals spans all 50 states, ensuring nationwide coverage. We've also built a deep bench of professionals to meet any deadlines or requirements.
5. Personal Connection and Rigorous Evaluations
For your letter to be effective, a live consultation with a mental health professional is a must. At Pettable, we ensure our clinicians adhere to HUD standards and conduct comprehensive phone consultations to truly understand your mental health situation.
1. We Guarantee Our Letters Will Work For You
We believe you should not have to worry about your letter working or not. That's why at Pettable we offer a satisfaction guarantee - meaning your letter works or you get your money back.
2. World Class Mental Health Professionals
We have built a team of world class mental health professionals who can write you a PSD Letter prescription guaranteed to work anywhere you go.
3. Unparalleled Customer Support
We know getting your animal approved to travel or live with you can be stressful, which is why we invest so much in our team of dedicated support specialists to make sure you are always taken care of and have the support you need!
4. Licensed in all 50 states
Our network of mental health professionals is deep and spans across the entire country. Additionally, we have a deep team of mental health professionals to make sure we can meet any timeline.
5. Best In Class Legal Support
We are here to make sure your housing and travel needs are taken care of so you don't worry. Our legal team is dedicated to having your back should you need it!
6. Human Connection & Legitimate Evaluations
In order for your letter to work you need to have a live consultation with a mental health professional. At Pettable we make sure our clinicians adhered to HUD standards and conduct consultations over the phone to get to know you and your mental health situation well.
Pettable is the best provider because we're committed to making sure the process works for you. That means working with the best and most experienced mental health professionals in the ESA letter space, as well as providing a guarantee that your letter will work for you. We back all of this up with outstanding customer support, a renowned legal team, and a commitment to making sure you have an incredible experience.
We broke down the different services offered by every ESA service. And we looked for unbiased reviews from 3rd party sites.
MSW, LCSW
Jennifer Bronsnick is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Anxiety Treatment Specialist, & Heartmath Certified Trainer. She provides customized workshops and trainings to working professionals and teams to help build resilience and reduce stress with practical strategies.
MSW, LCSW
I graduated with a Master of Social Work (MSW) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee before obtaining my Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in 2021. I have eight years of experience in the mental health field working in and with various populations, including case management, intake coordination, and residential, inpatient, and outpatient programs. I am certified in Brainspotting to help individuals deeply process negative emotions and trauma/significant life events. Additionally, I utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), and safety planning in sessions/groups.
LCSW
As a clinical social worker, I have been able to work within multiple types of settings, such as hospitals, community centers, and family welfare. I enjoy having the clinical and administrative experience to holistically serve those I work with.
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