How to Get an ESA Animal in San Diego—and How It Can Help You or Your Child’s Mental Health

Man engages in a loving moment with his dog. Explore the benefits of getting an ESA animal with your therapist at La Jolla Therapy Center.

Here at La Jolla Therapy Center, we have worked with with a lot of teens over the years. I will never forget this one family in particular. This teeenage son had been battling depression for over a year. He’d been in therapy, learned different coping skills, and made progress—but his mom never felt like he was back to 100%. Then, his family adopted a goofy Labrador. Let's call him Noodle for the sake of the story. Noodle wasn’t trained to sense panic attacks or perform tasks; he mostly knocked things over with his tail and begged for snacks. But when her son had tough days, Noodle was there, needing to be let out to pee, being silly with his toys, and sleeping at his feet. Within weeks, his mom said, “I don’t know what it is, but Noodle is helping in a way nothing else has.”

That’s the power of an emotional support animal—or ESA for short. If you’ve ever wondered what exactly an ESA is, how someone can get one, and how it might help with your mental health, you’re in the right place. Let's jump in.

What Is an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) and How to Get One in San Diego

An emotional support animal is any pet that provides comfort and helps ease symptoms of a mental health condition. Unlike service animals, ESAs don’t need special training or certifications. Their “job” is simply to be there—to offer companionship, warmth, and a sense of calm when life feels overwhelming.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Service animals are highly trained to perform tasks (think guide dogs or seizure-alert dogs). They have broad legal protections and can go almost anywhere with their owner.

• Therapy animals are often used in hospitals, schools, or group settings to bring comfort to many people.

• Emotional support animals (ESAs) are for one person. They don’t need special training—their presence alone helps with mental health challenges like anxiety, depression, or PTSD.

  
  

So if your teen’s cat helps them manage their panic attacks, or your own dog keeps you grounded during bouts of depression, that animal might be considered an ESA.

How Do You Actually Get an ESA?

This part can feel a little confusing because the internet is full of “quick ESA certificate” ads. But here’s the truth: there’s no official registry or magic form that makes your pet an ESA. What really matters is a letter from a licensed mental health professional.

Here’s how the process works:

1. Talk to a mental health professional

   If you or your child are in therapy or seeing a psychiatrist, start there. Explain how your pet (or a potential pet) helps with symptoms. The clinician will assess whether an ESA makes sense as part of your care plan.

2. Get an ESA letter

   If appropriate, your therapist or doctor can write a letter on their letterhead. It will state that you have a mental health condition and that an ESA helps alleviate symptoms. This is what housing providers recognize—not a certificate you buy online.

3. Choose the right animal

   Dogs and cats are most common, but technically, an ESA could be a rabbit, bird, or other domesticated animal. What matters most is the connection and support it provides.

   
   

Quick note of caution: Be wary of websites that promise “instant ESA approval.” If the letter isn’t from a licensed mental health provider who has evaluated you, landlords or airlines may not accept it. At our San Diego-based practice La Jolla Therapy Center, we often talk with parents wondering whether an ESA might be a good fit.

How an ESA Can Support Mental Health

If you’ve ever had a pet, you already know the comfort they bring. But ESAs go a step further by becoming part of someone’s coping toolkit for managing their mental health. Here are a few of the most common ways:

• Reducing anxiety

  Petting a dog or cat can lower stress hormones and increase calming chemicals in the brain. That’s why people often feel grounded and more at ease around their animals.

• Easing loneliness

  Depression and anxiety can make people pull away from others. Having an ESA means built-in companionship—you’re not alone, even on the hardest days.

• Adding structure and routine

  Caring for a pet requires feeding, walking, and playtime. For someone struggling to get out of bed, this structure can be life-giving and provide a sense of purpose.

• Improving mood

  The unconditional love of an ESA often brings joy, laughter, and comfort—powerful antidotes to feelings of hopelessness or stress.

• Grounding in tough moments

  Stroking fur, holding a paw, or listening to steady breathing can help redirect spiraling thoughts and bring someone back to the present moment.

  
  

What Rights Do ESAs Have?

This is where things can get a little tricky, so here’s the simple version:

• Housing: Under the Fair Housing Act, landlords have to make reasonable accommodations for ESAs, even in “no pet” housing. They also can’t charge pet fees. In San Diego, where many rental properties don’t allow pets, having an ESA letter can make a major difference for families needing housing accommodations.

• Travel: Airlines used to be required to recognize ESAs, but as of 2021, they no longer have to. Most now treat them as regular pets, which means you may have to pay pet fees.

• Public places: ESAs don’t have the same access rights as service animals. That means you can’t necessarily bring them into restaurants, stores, or schools unless pets are generally allowed.

  
  

So, while an ESA letter helps in housing situations, it doesn’t mean your animal can go everywhere with you.

Final Thoughts

Emotional support animals are not a “cure” for mental health struggles, but for many individuals and families, they’re an incredible source of healing. Whether it’s a cat who curls up next to a child with anxiety, or a dog who gets a parent outside for fresh air when depression hits hard, ESAs can make a world of difference.

If you think your teen, child, or family could benefit from an emotional support animal in San Diego, start with a conversation with a licensed therapist who understands ESA evaluations and mental health support. And remember—this isn’t about paperwork or labels. It’s about the bond between a person and their animal, and how that bond can create comfort, stability, and hope.

Our San Diego, California based counseling practice specializes in helping teens and adults who struggle with anxiety. Through counseling, we help kids and young adults overcome the negative thought cycles, the constant comparison game, and worst-case scenarios that accompany the anxious brain. Additionally, we offer other mental health services, primarily for perfectionists, overachievers or others who don’t feel like they 100% fit in. More specifically we offer treatment for anxiety/OCD, and depression at La Jolla Therapy Center. If you don’t live around San Diego or the commute makes in-person therapy impossible, all of our services are available via online therapy to anyone physically located in California. Therefore, we work with clients from Sacramento to Palo Alto or even Mountain View. You and your family deserve to finally feel less overwhelmed. Get started today by scheduling your free phone consultation with a member of our team here.