Support Animal Certification

Animals can provide a sense of security when you’re feeling anxious. They can also become part of your therapeutic care for many mental health conditions. At Elitist Healthcare, support animal certificate services are available for individuals living in Georgia. Family medicine physician Carlyn Sainvil, DO, meets through an online telehealth platform to evaluate your mental health needs from the comfort of your home and qualify you for an emotional support animal certificate. Call the Atlanta, Georgia, office today to learn more about the benefits of support animal certification or book an appointment online.

What is a support animal certificate?

A support animal certification meets Georgia’s requirements for registering a dog or other domesticated animal as an emotional support animal.

An emotional support animal (ESA) describes any animal that provides a sense of security and comfort to people with a mental health condition.

Support animals may also assist individuals in their daily routines. However, they are not specifically trained to help with certain physical tasks like service animals.

Elitist Healthcare offers support animal certificates for people in Georgia. Dr. Sainvil meets with you through a confidential online telehealth platform to review your mental health and qualify your pet for support animal certification.

When should I consider a support animal certificate?

Emotional support animals can be an effective part of your treatment plan for mental and emotional health conditions like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Certifying an animal as an ESA allows the animal to accompany you in public places that otherwise restrict pets. You can certify a domesticated animal of any age or type as long as you can manage it in public; it isn’t a nuisance and doesn’t threaten others.

Many people certify dogs as an emotional support animal. You might also consider certifying animals like:

• Cats
• Ferrets
• Mice
• Birds
• Goats
• Horses
• Rabbits
• Llamas

Interacting with the emotional support animal offers many therapeutic benefits for people who feel fearful, anxious, or depressed, especially in public spaces. 

Petting or holding an ESA can reduce stress, relieve feelings of loneliness, and regulate your heart rate and blood pressure.

What is involved in support animal certification?

Support animal certification requires a mental health evaluation and documentation from a qualifying and licensed physician. The documentation includes evidence you have a psychiatric condition or disability and would benefit from an ESA.

Dr. Sainvil offers comprehensive psychiatric evaluations during a telehealth appointment to assess your mental health needs and determine if you will benefit from an emotional support animal.  

The certification protects against discrimination in housing so that you can keep an ESA in an apartment or other type of residence.  The certificate also allows you to travel with the animal on the subway legally, in airplanes, and on other modes of public transportation.

Call Elitist Healthcare today to schedule a telehealth vision for a support animal certification consultation or book an appointment online.