Service animal
An animal individually trained to perform specific tasks for a person with a disability. Service animals follow different training and legal standards from emotional support animals.
Animal-Assisted Services
Emotional Support Animal (ESA) evaluations in Denver, Colorado
Animals can play an important role in our well-being and in how we manage mental health symptoms. Our licensed clinicians provide individualized annual ESA evaluations for people who already have an animal that supports them.
ESA Letters
What is an Emotional Support Animal letter?
An ESA letter is clinical documentation from a licensed mental health clinician. When clinically appropriate, it may support a request for a reasonable housing accommodation with a landlord, HOA, or property manager, including in housing with a no-pet policy.
An evaluation may be worth exploring if you live with anxiety, depression, trauma or PTSD, significant stress, isolation, a neurodevelopmental condition, or a chronic health condition—and your animal already plays a meaningful role in how you cope.
ESA documentation is not an animal certification, behavior assessment, official registration, or legal guarantee. We evaluate your mental health needs and your relationship with your animal on an individual basis.
Our clinicians are trained to conduct ESA evaluations ethically and in accordance with applicable professional requirements. Practice owner Hannah Snider is also trained in animal-assisted social work, reflecting our understanding of the important role animals can play in mental health and our commitment to helping clients navigate appropriate accommodations.
The Process
How the annual evaluation works
We meet
We meet in person at our Denver office, as Colorado licensing law requires the clinician making an ESA determination to meet with the patient in person. We talk about your symptoms, history, mental health needs, and the support your animal already provides. As part of our practice’s evaluation process, we ask for documentation of your qualifying mental health diagnosis from your prescribing or therapeutic provider before the evaluation.
We assess
Your clinician completes an individualized clinical assessment and reviews animal welfare, the different roles animals can have, and the limits of ESA documentation.
We document when appropriate
If an ESA is clinically appropriate, we prepare documentation that may support a fair-housing accommodation request. Our letters are issued for one year and require a fresh evaluation before renewal.
Know the Difference
An ESA is not a service animal—and not a therapy animal
These roles are often confused, but they have different purposes, training expectations, and legal standards.
Therapy animal
An animal trained and evaluated to support goal-oriented therapeutic work alongside a clinician. Our own Lola is a certified professional therapy dog who may support appropriate sessions.
Emotional support animal
An animal that provides comfort through companionship. ESA documentation may support a reasonable housing-accommodation request; it does not turn an animal into a service animal or authorize access unrelated to housing.
A Word of Caution
Be cautious with instant ESA ‘registration’ sites
There is no official federal ESA registry used to establish a need for a housing accommodation. A certificate, ID card, vest, or paid registration is not a substitute for an individualized evaluation by a licensed clinician.
Be wary of services that promise an instant letter without a clinician meeting with you for an in-person evaluation. A legitimate clinical process considers your mental health needs; it does not simply sell paperwork or certify your animal’s behavior.
It is also important to consider whether your treating therapist or medication prescriber is the right person to complete an ESA evaluation. Combining ongoing treatment and evaluation roles can create ethical or role concerns in some circumstances. Our practice uses an independent evaluation process; acceptance of any documentation ultimately depends on the housing-accommodation process and applicable law.
If you are unsure about a service or document you have found, we are glad to help you understand what our evaluation includes. We cannot promise a particular legal or housing outcome.
Ask Us About ESA LettersQuestions
ESA evaluation FAQs
Do I need to already have an animal to get an ESA letter?
Yes. Our evaluation considers the support you are already receiving from your relationship with a specific animal, so you must have the animal before scheduling an evaluation.
How often does an ESA letter need to be renewed?
Our ESA documentation is issued for one year. Because needs and circumstances can change, we complete a new individualized clinical evaluation before providing updated documentation.
Does an evaluation guarantee that I will receive a letter?
No. An evaluation is not a guarantee of documentation. Your licensed clinician will determine whether an ESA is clinically appropriate based on your individual circumstances. A letter supports a housing-accommodation request but cannot guarantee a housing provider’s decision.
How do I set up a consultation?
Visit our booking page to choose a convenient time for a free 15-minute consultation. We will explain the evaluation process, cost, and what to expect before you decide whether to move forward.
Where will we meet?
All ESA evaluations are completed in person at our Denver office. Telehealth is not available for ESA evaluations because Colorado licensing law requires the clinician making the determination to meet with the patient in person.
Do you accept my insurance?
Lola & Me Therapy is a private-pay, out-of-network practice and does not bill insurance directly. We can verify your out-of-network benefits and help estimate your possible reimbursement. Medicaid cannot be used for any services at Lola & Me Therapy. We can provide a superbill, or Mentaya can submit claims on your behalf for a 5% fee per submitted session.
Can I use my HSA to pay for sessions?
Yes. We accept HSA payments. Please upload your HSA card through the secure client portal before your first session. Clinicians do not accept payment cards or documentation in person.
Start With a Conversation
Find comfort and support through a professional ESA evaluation
Schedule a free 15-minute consultation and we’ll help you understand whether an individualized ESA evaluation may be a good fit for you and your animal—no pressure and no obligation.
Schedule a Free Consultation →