TY - JOUR
T1 - Emotional Support Animals in the United States: Emergent Guidelines for Mental Health Clinicians
AU - Hoy-Gerlach, Janet
AU - Vincent, Aviva
AU - Lory Hector, Becca
PY - 2019/12
Y1 - 2019/12
N2 - The role of Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) in facilitating mental health recovery is gaining increasing attention internationally. Within the United States, ESAs are companion animals without any special training, who are denoted in writing by a licensed mental health professional to be a therapeutic necessity for someone living with chronic mental health symptoms and who has a condition that meets the legal definition of a disability. ESAs are recognized within federal disability legislation, with limited rights to those who have ESAs as accommodations for their disabilities. The aim of this article is to present ESAs as a valid psychosocial rehabilitation intervention, consistent with the tenets of mental health recovery. Empirical literature is discussed, and a theoretical foundation is applied to explain the mechanism within the theory of change for how and why ESAs benefit people living with chronic mental health issues. To advance the current literature and practice, emergent best practices and guidelines for mental health clinicians for designating and documenting ESA need for clients who request such are provided.
AB - The role of Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) in facilitating mental health recovery is gaining increasing attention internationally. Within the United States, ESAs are companion animals without any special training, who are denoted in writing by a licensed mental health professional to be a therapeutic necessity for someone living with chronic mental health symptoms and who has a condition that meets the legal definition of a disability. ESAs are recognized within federal disability legislation, with limited rights to those who have ESAs as accommodations for their disabilities. The aim of this article is to present ESAs as a valid psychosocial rehabilitation intervention, consistent with the tenets of mental health recovery. Empirical literature is discussed, and a theoretical foundation is applied to explain the mechanism within the theory of change for how and why ESAs benefit people living with chronic mental health issues. To advance the current literature and practice, emergent best practices and guidelines for mental health clinicians for designating and documenting ESA need for clients who request such are provided.
KW - Emotional Support Animals
KW - Social work
KW - disability accommodation
UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s40737-019-00146-8
U2 - 10.1007/s40737-019-00146-8
DO - 10.1007/s40737-019-00146-8
M3 - Article
SN - 2198-9834
JO - Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health
JF - Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation and Mental Health
ER -