Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Evaluations in Louisiana and Arizona

If you are seeking an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter for housing, I offer structured, ethical ESA evaluations for adults in Louisiana and Arizona.

This service is designed for individuals who are looking for a legitimate clinical evaluation rather than a quick online letter. ESA documentation is provided only when clinically appropriate and after completion of the evaluation process.

An Emotional Support Animal evaluation is a clinical service used to determine whether a person has a mental or emotional health condition that substantially impacts daily functioning and whether an emotional support animal may help relieve symptoms related to that condition.

This is not an instant approval service and is not a pay-for-letter service.

My goal is to provide a thoughtful, assessment-based process that is ethical, thorough, and supportive.

This service may be a good fit for you if:

• You live in Louisiana or Arizona
• You are seeking ESA documentation for housing
• You are open to completing a real clinical evaluation process
• You understand that documentation is based on clinical judgment and is not guaranteed
• You are comfortable with this being a private pay service

This service is likely not a good fit if you are looking for:

• Same-day or instant ESA letters
• A guaranteed approval
• A one-session letter
• A letter without an evaluation
• Insurance billing for the evaluation

ESA evaluations are completed through a structured process that includes:

1. Initial session

During the first session, we will review your current concerns, mental health history, daily functioning, and the role your animal plays in your emotional well-being.

2. Clinical assessments

You may be asked to complete standardized screening tools, such as anxiety and depression measures to help support the clinical picture and ensure a well-documented evaluation.

3. Follow-up session

A second session allows for further assessment, clarification, and clinical determination regarding whether ESA documentation is appropriate.

4. Documentation, if appropriate

If, after the evaluation process, ESA documentation is clinically appropriate, a formal letter will be provided.

I am licensed in both Louisiana and Arizona, and ESA evaluations are available by telehealth for eligible clients in those states.

Because state expectations can differ, the evaluation process is designed to meet appropriate clinical and legal standards while maintaining a high level of care.

ESA Evaluation Package: $600

This package includes:

• Two clinical evaluation sessions
• Review of assessment measures
• Clinical documentation and determination
• ESA letter, if clinically appropriate

This service is private pay only and is not billed to insurance.

Payment options

Payment plans may be available. If cost is a concern, you are welcome to ask about current payment options before scheduling.

Please read carefully before requesting this service:

• Payment is for the evaluation process, not for a guaranteed letter
• ESA documentation is provided only if clinically appropriate
• This service is for housing-related ESA documentation
• This service does not include certification, registration, or service animal training
• This service is private pay only
• Insurance is not accepted for ESA evaluations

Some clients seeking an ESA evaluation may also benefit from continued mental health support.

If ongoing counseling is recommended and you would like to continue care, I may be able to connect you with a provider within the practice for ongoing therapy services. In some cases, those ongoing therapy services may be covered by insurance, depending on the provider and plan.

ESA evaluations are conducted by Catherine Schully, LPC-S, a Licensed Professional Counselor Supervisor.

Catherine is a licensed mental health professional in both Louisiana and Arizona with experience in clinical assessment, diagnosis, and documentation of mental health conditions. In addition to her work in private practice, she has extensive experience completing structured clinical evaluations that require clear justification of medical necessity and functional impairment.

Her background includes:

• Conducting comprehensive mental health assessments
• Diagnosing and documenting anxiety, depression, and related conditions
• Evaluating functional impairment in daily life
• Providing clinical recommendations based on established standards of care
• This experience allows for a thorough, thoughtful, and ethically grounded ESA evaluation process rather than a quick or surface-level determination.

There are many online services that offer instant ESA letters without a true evaluation. These letters are often rejected by housing providers because they do not meet appropriate clinical or legal standards.

Working with a licensed clinician like Catherine Schully, LPC-S ensures that:

• Your evaluation is legitimate and clinically sound
• Documentation is based on a real assessment process
• Your letter, if provided, is supported by appropriate clinical reasoning

It’s common to feel confused about the different types of support animals. While they all provide important benefits, they are not the same and have different roles and legal protections.

Emotional Support Animals (ESAs)
Emotional support animals provide comfort and emotional support related to a mental or emotional health condition. ESAs are not required to have specialized training. ESA documentation may allow for housing accommodations under the Fair Housing Act.

Service Animals
Service animals are typically dogs that are individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability (such as guiding someone who is visually impaired or alerting to seizures). Service animals are granted public access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Therapy Animals
Therapy animals are trained to provide comfort to others in settings such as hospitals, schools, or nursing homes. They do not have the same legal protections as service animals or ESAs and are typically part of organized programs.

Important Note:
ESA evaluations through this practice are for emotional support animals related to housing accommodations only and do not provide certification, registration, or public access rights.

Emotional Support Animal (ESA) evaluations provided through this practice are intended for housing accommodations only under the Fair Housing Act.

ESA letters do not apply to workplace settings, travel, or public access.

Workplace accommodations are governed by different regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. In some cases, individuals may request accommodations through their employer; however, approval is determined by the employer and is not guaranteed.

If clinically appropriate, a general letter of support for workplace accommodations may be provided. This type of documentation is different from an ESA letter and does not establish a legal right to bring an animal to work.