EMOTIONAL
SUPPORT ANIMAL CONSULTATIONS

An emotional support animal (ESA) can provide both comfort and companionship to individuals suffering from psychological or emotional health conditions. ESAs often provide emotional support to people who suffer with anxiety, depression, PTSD, certain phobias, bipolar disorder, and more. Because of this, ESAs are given special protection in areas of both housing and travel. There is no need to register, license, or certify your emotional support animals. Federal and state laws require that the owners have a consultation with a licensed mental health professional (e.g., therapist, counselor, psychologist, psychiatrist, etc.) and receive a properly formatted official letter.

At Family Solutions Counseling, we offer consultations to help you in the process of obtaining the needed documentation to qualify for an emotional support animal (ESA). Our licensed therapists can conduct an assessment and discuss how to best support you. The consultation can be held in person or through telehealth online. The cost for the consultation and completed ESA letter is $250. Call us for more information.

Emotional support animals have certain protections under the Fair Housing Act (FHA) and the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA). The Fair Housing Act permits individuals to live with ESAs in residences with no-pet policies - free of charge or deposits. Specific breed or weight restrictions do not apply to emotional support animals. Landlords must accept and accommodate ESAs unless the animal is dangerous or unsafe to the building or other tenants. When flying with your ESA you are afforded limited protections under the ACAA. The airlines can make their own rules concerning emotional support animals. Many require that you provide an ESA letter, along with additional forms, several hours before your flight. There may be further restrictions for large animals, international travel, and owners with multiple ESAs. You can find out more about airline ESA rules by going to the airline’s website and searching ESA’s.

No, there is no need to register your pet as an emotional support animal on an online database or through any organization. The ESA letter itself serves as proof of your emotional support animal status.

An official emotional support animal letter includes the mental health professional's licensing information and contact details, a statement confirming your disability (does not mention specific details), the date of issue, and the personal information (name and address) of the individual receiving the ESA letter.

No, a digital version of your ESA letter is valid and can be saved on mobile devices such as phones and laptops.

No, an ESA letter grants protection for housing and travel. You cannot use an ESA letter to go into public places that prohibit pets. This includes hotels, restaurants, grocery stores, stadiums, bars, and other public spaces that don’t allow the entry of pets.

ESA letters are written for emotional support animals; ESAs are not always recognized by every part of the law. By acquiring a PSA or psychiatric service dog letter, your dog will legally be accommodated in all spaces.

ESAs are not considered Service Animals. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) designates service animals as animals that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks that relate directly to a person’s disability.

A signed ESA letter written by a licensed therapist allows you protection by The Fair Housing Act. This allows you protection from landlords from refusing to rent to you because of your pet, or from charging you extra fees for having your pet. Once your pet has been granted ESA status, they considered an emotional support or service animal.

Family Solutions Counseling offers consultations to help you obtain an ESA letter that can give you protection under The Fair Housing Act. Our licensed therapists can conduct an assessment and discuss how to best support you. The consultation can be held in person or through telehealth online. The cost for the consultation and completed ESA letter is $250. Call us for more information.

The Fair Housing Act prevents housing discrimination in the United States. This Act prohibits discrimination in the purchase, sale, rental, or financing of a property based on a variety of factors. Mental health disability is protected by this act, so if your pets are considered service animals or qualify for an ESA letter, you and your pets will be protected under this statute.

Yes, after speaking with a therapist you might be able to obtain/purchase multiple ESA letters, with additional fees. It is important that you complete ESA letter requirements for each animal you want to get approved.

Handling stress is an especially important question right now, because we’re constantly being bombarded with information designed to capture our attention. Our brains are wired to notice novelty and patterns—breaking news, conflict, outrage, anything “new and shiny.” While that’s normal, the nonstop stimulation takes a real toll on our nervous systems.

This may sound overly simple, but one of the most effective ways to manage stress is to intentionally disconnect every day. Put your phone down and give your brain a break. Spend time in nature, sit quietly, or listen to music without multitasking. Be mindful of what you allow into your “zone of attention” and limit unnecessary input.

Simplifying your life also matters. We don’t need dozens of apps, endless tabs open, constant social plans, or nonstop availability. Take things one at a time. Be realistic about what your present self—and your future self—can actually manage. Consider setting specific times to check messages or connect with others instead of being available 24/7.

Mindfulness, self-care, and boundaries all play a role. Saying no to things that don’t add meaningful value to your life isn’t selfish—it’s protective. Reducing stimulation, slowing down, and being intentional with your time helps your nervous system reset and makes stress far more manageable.

Finally, laugh. Find humor in your present life, not just on reels or trends. I mean, this whole dramatic life experience we're having is....ridiculously hilarious if you really think about it, no?

A panic attack means your nervous system is overwhelmed and your body is responding as if it’s under threat. The first priority is not to reason with your thoughts—it’s to calm the body.

Grounding and breathing techniques help slow your breath and send a signal of safety to your nervous system. This tells your body, “I’m safe. I’m here. This will pass.” Reducing extra stimulation can also help—step away from noise, screens, or crowds if possible and take a moment for yourself.

Deep pressure can be very regulating, such as wrapping yourself tightly in a blanket or hugging a pillow. Bilateral movement is another effective tool—walking, tapping your knees left to right, or using butterfly taps can help your nervous system settle. Splashing cold water on your face can also shock the system back toward regulation.

One common misconception is that being talked through a panic attack will help. For most people, it doesn’t—at least not at first. Until your body feels safe again, the thinking part of your brain isn’t fully online. Once your nervous system settles, talking and processing can actually be helpful.

Therapists are trained to teach these skills and, just as importantly, to help you identify what’s triggering your panic attacks in the first place. When you understand your unique triggers, you can learn ways to reduce or even prevent panic before it escalates. Support makes a difference—and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Anxiety is best treated by working with both the body and the mind, not just one or the other. Anxiety isn’t a personal flaw or something you can simply “think your way out of”—it’s your nervous system being stuck in a state of alert for too long.

Treatment usually starts with helping the body feel safer. This can include learning breathing techniques, grounding skills, mindfulness, movement, improving sleep, and reducing chronic stressors. When the nervous system is calmer, the brain becomes more flexible and better able to cope.

From there, therapy focuses on understanding the patterns that keep anxiety going. This might include unhelpful thought loops, avoidance behaviors, perfectionism, people-pleasing, or past experiences that taught your brain the world isn’t safe. Learning how anxiety shows up for you is key—because anxiety doesn’t look the same for everyone.

Therapy also helps you build tools to respond differently when anxiety shows up, instead of fighting it, avoiding it, or letting it run the show. Over time, this retrains your brain and nervous system so anxiety becomes less intense, less frequent, and easier to manage.

Medication can be helpful for some people, but it’s not the only option and it’s not a requirement. Many people see significant improvement through therapy alone, especially when it’s focused on both nervous system regulation and practical coping skills.

Our therapists are trained to help you understand your specific anxiety triggers, teach you effective tools, and support you as you practice using them in real life. You don’t have to manage anxiety on your own—and with the right support, it can become something you understand and manage rather than something that controls you.

Anxiety can show up in many different ways, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people expect anxiety to always feel like panic, but often it’s quieter, more chronic, and easier to miss.

Physically, anxiety may show up as a racing heart, tight chest, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, muscle tension, headaches, stomach issues, sweating, shakiness, or feeling on edge. Trouble sleeping, feeling constantly tired, or being easily startled are also common signs.

Mentally and emotionally, anxiety often looks like excessive worry, racing thoughts, difficulty concentrating, overthinking, catastrophizing, or feeling a constant sense of dread. You might notice irritability, restlessness, or feeling like you can’t fully relax, even when things are “fine.”

Behaviorally, anxiety can lead to avoidance—putting things off, canceling plans, staying busy to distract yourself, or steering clear of situations that feel uncomfortable. It can also show up as perfectionism, people-pleasing, reassurance-seeking, or feeling a strong need to stay in control.

Because anxiety affects both the nervous system and the mind, people often don’t realize their physical symptoms are connected to anxiety at all. Many assume something is “wrong” with their body, when it’s actually their system stuck in a state of threat.

Our therapists help people identify how anxiety shows up specifically for them, understand what’s driving it, and learn tools to calm the nervous system and reduce symptoms over time. When you can recognize anxiety for what it is, it becomes much easier to manage—and much less scary.

Depression isn’t just feeling sad for a few days—it’s a persistent shift in how you feel, think, and function. Many people with depression don’t even describe themselves as “sad.” Instead, they feel numb, empty, disconnected, or exhausted by life.

Common signs include a loss of interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy, low motivation, persistent fatigue, changes in sleep or appetite, and difficulty concentrating. You may notice feelings of hopelessness, guilt, worthlessness, or a harsh inner critic that won’t turn off. Even small tasks can start to feel overwhelming or impossible.

Depression can also show up physically. Body aches, headaches, stomach issues, and feeling constantly tired—even after rest—are common. Emotionally, people often feel irritable, withdrawn, or disconnected from others, even when they’re not alone.

One key indicator is duration and impact. If these symptoms have been present most days for at least a couple of weeks and are affecting your work, relationships, or ability to function, it’s worth paying attention. Depression exists on a spectrum, and you don’t have to be at a breaking point to deserve support.

Our therapists help people sort through what they’re experiencing and determine whether it’s depression, burnout, grief, anxiety, or a combination. Getting clarity is often the first step toward relief. You don’t need to self-diagnose—having a supportive professional walk through this with you can make things feel far less heavy and far more manageable.

This is a really common question, and an important one. Depression usually isn’t something you simply “cure” overnight—it’s something you learn to treat, manage, and move through. For many people, depression comes from a combination of biology, life stress, trauma, loss, burnout, and how the nervous system has learned to cope over time.

Treatment often focuses on addressing both the symptoms and the root causes. That can include therapy to help you understand what’s contributing to your depression, challenge unhelpful thought patterns, process difficult experiences, and rebuild motivation and meaning. It also includes practical supports like improving sleep, increasing gentle movement, reconnecting with others, and reducing overwhelm. These things may sound basic, but they have a real impact on brain chemistry and emotional health.

Medication can be helpful for some people, especially when depression is moderate to severe, long-lasting, or making daily functioning very difficult. It’s not a failure and it’s not always permanent—it’s one tool among many, and the right choice is highly individual.

What’s important to know is that depression is very treatable. Many people experience significant relief and even full remission with the right combination of support. The goal isn’t just to “stop feeling bad,” but to help you feel more like yourself again and build resilience for the future.

Our therapists work with you to understand your specific type of depression and create a treatment plan that fits your life. You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t have to wait until things feel unbearable to get help.