By Danielle Thomassy, LCSW, CAP, CCTP

 

There is a lot of controversy regarding whether Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals are the same thing. Let’s break it down a bit easier for you!

 

Under Title II and Title III of the Americas With Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is required to be a dog. The dog must be trained to work or perform specialized tasks tailored to the needs of an individual with a disability. Disabilities include physical, mental, or psychiatric health conditions. These impairments cause limitations in day-to-day activities. 

These are some examples of conditions that may qualify as mental disabilities that would make someone eligible for a psychiatric service dog: 

 

• Depression and Depressive Disorders
• Anxiety Disorders & Phobias
• Bipolar Disorders
• Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Addiction, Substance-Abuse, and Alcoholism
• PTSD, Trauma & Stress-Related Disorders
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders (OCD)
• Dissociative and Personality Disorders
• Autism
• Neurocognitive and Sleep-Wave Disorders 

These are some examples of conditions that may qualify as physical disabilities.

 

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
• Sensory Disabilities (Blind, Deaf, etc.)
• ALS
• Cancer
• Dementia 
• Cerebral Palsy
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Spinal Cord Injury
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Chronic Pain
• Stroke
• Paralysis
• Vertigo

An Emotional Support Animal (ESA) is entirely different than a service animal.  According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), an emotional support animal is any animal that provides emotional support alleviating one or more symptoms or effects of a person’s disability. Emotional support animals provide companionship, relieve loneliness, and assist with symptoms of depression/anxiety. However, emotional support animals do not have the same training as service animals; therefore, they are not service animals.

At The Wellness Academy, we work with every person on an individualized basis regarding their wishes. Whether you require assistance in our academy from your emotional support animal, or request a meeting with our Board-Certified Psychiatrist to discuss obtaining a letter for a service animal, we can help!