Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Continuing Education Training and Templates 

The Mental Health Practitioner’s Guide to ESA Evaluations and Accommodation Letters

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Attorney-reviewed.
CE hours available.

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Audience

Professional
Mental health practitioners
Advanced skills

Format

On demand e-learning
Lifetime access
Bonus 1:1  support session

Duration

3.75 credit hours of training
2+ hours to customize toolkit
and read optional readings

Toolkit Templates

Editable Google Docs
Editable Google Forms
Toolkit not CE-eligible

What's included?

  • An attorney-reviewed training course with everything you want to know about providing emotional support animal accommodation services.
  • 3.75 NBCC credit hours. 
  • A half-hour 1:1 video support session you can schedule at any point within a year of completing the training.
  • A customizable attorney-reviewed toolkit with 17 Google Docs and Google Forms so you can get started NOW! (Toolkit included in price but not included in CE hours)

Your complete how-to guide

This course has everything you need to become an expert. Conduct ESA evaluations, make clinically sound decisions about writing ESA letters, and mitigate your liability risks.

Self-paced for convenience

You can enroll in this course whenever you want, and study at your own time and pace. You have lifetime access to the course and a whole year to use the 1:1 video support session.

A unique learning experience

This in an interactive course with practical exercises where you will apply what you've learned to real life clinical situations. Each choice you make delivers immediate feedback.

Editable tools so you can start now!

The toolkit comes with 17 customizable Google Docs and Forms so you can start right away! Labelled graphics show you exactly how to edit these tools quickly and easily. 

Not sure yet?

Sign up and view the course introduction section for free!

Course Lessons

Toolkit Materials

What's the value of knowledge without the tools to use it? The toolkit that accompanies this training was designed to save you time by providing all the wording for you. You will not have to write the content yourself! When you edit these documents for your practice, you'll be removing or tweaking the language - not first researching what to say. It's all done for you! 
  • Editable ESA letter request policy (Google Doc)
  • Editable client evaluation form (Google Doc)
  • Editable ESA letter guidelines (Google Doc)
  • Editable ESA letter template (Google Doc)
  • Editable ESA informed consent agreement (Google Doc)
  • Editable ESA informed consent agreement (Google Form)
  • Editable ESA fee agreement for self-pay providers (Google Doc)
  • Editable ESA fee agreement for OON providers (Google Doc)
  • Editable ESA fee agreement for self-pay providers (Google Form)
  • Editable ESA fee agreement for OON providers (Google Form)
  • Editable client evaluation form (Google Form)
  • Editable good faith estimate (Google Doc)
  • Editable letter for contacting animal care professionals (Google Doc)
  • Editable GFE acknowledgement of receipt (Google Form)
  • Suggested CPT codes (PDF)
  • Editable digital notepad 
  • Summary checklist of liability pitfalls (PDF)

Toolkit materials are included in the course price, but are not included in the available CE hours. These materials and the time for reading and working with them should be considered supplemental. 

Please note that using the toolkit templates involves the additional expense of a Google Workspace account. That expense is not included in the course price.

A message from Your Instructor
One of the most common questions posted in social media groups for psychotherapists is “My client asked me for an emotional support animal letter. What do I need to know to write these?”

After reading comments from practitioners I noticed that responses to this question came from three perspectives:

  • Practitioners who lacked the knowledge to protect themselves and thought of ESA letters as a liability risk not worth taking.
  • Practitioners who lacked knowledge of the laws and rules governing the provision of ESA letters and were taking outrageous risks with their licenses.
  • Practitioners who understood the policies and liabilities, but simply didn’t have the time to create a toolkit for evaluation and documentation so they didn’t have to decline or refer out when clients requested ESA letters.

It was apparent to me that to be comprehensive, an up-to-date training would be most effective if packaged with customizable tools. This course makes it easier for you to evaluate your clients for emotional support animal accommodations, and to write ESA letters that will both serve clients’ needs and mitigate your professional liability risks. 
Patrick Jones - Course author

Michelle Robin Gould

Licensed Mental Health Counselor
National Certified Counselor
Board-Certified TeleMental Health Provider
Instructional Designer
Michelle Robin Gould Corporation has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7583. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Michelle Robin Gould Corporation is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Frequently asked questions

Who should take this course?

This training and toolkit were designed for mental health practitioners who are based in the United States and are qualified to provide psychotherapy.

This course may also be useful for associate/intern psychotherapists and other qualified health care professionals whose clients (aka patients) ask them to write a letter recommending accommodations for an emotional support animal. Since these parties may not be not eligible for CE credit hours, there is a different version of the course that has equivalent content and a certificate of completion that does not issue CEs. You can find that version at https://training.michellerobingould.com/course/esa-evaluation-ethics-liabilities-letter-training.

How is this ESA course different from other ESA courses?

Legal and Ethical Aspects

  • The course and toolkit both have been reviewed by an attorney.
  • This course offers 3.75 NBCC credit hours.
  • I untangle the misinformation circulating on social media by identifying why there are so many misunderstandings about what is and isn't allowed.
  • I explain why there’s so much controversy around writing ESA letters and why it shouldn’t stop you from writing them legally and ethically. I equip you with actionable steps, documentation, and information to easily justify your clinical decisions if you need to defend your ESA letters in a lawsuit or investigation.
  • I give you the language to communicate with your clients about the implications of having an emotional support animal so you can offer them an informed consent process that’s specific to this service.

Practical Aspects
  • The time-saving toolkit is written for you. You won’t have to spend time filling in empty boxes. Just add your branding and get started right away. In my opinion, the crown jewel of that toolkit is the client evaluation form. It’s packed with questions that help you quickly and easily reach clinically sound decisions about whether to write an ESA letter for a particular client.
  • I cover updated opinions from professional literature, trace those opinions to earlier recommendations, and compare them to popular literature. Best of all, I link to those resources right in the training so you’ll have them handy - no jumping back and forth to the references list. It’s all right there when you need it.
  • It comes with a 30 minute one-on-one video session so you can ask questions that came up for you while you were learning.

What does it mean that the course and toolkit were reviewed by an attorney?

"Attorney reviewed" means that an attorney has reviewed the content to make sure the legal language is accurate and clear. This review helps in mitigating potential legal risks by verifying that the information adheres to the latest legal standards and practices.

"Attorney reviewed" should not be construed as a substitute for counsel from your own attorney. As a mental health professional, you accept all responsibility and liability for your use of these materials in your professional practice. Please contact your qualified attorney if you have concerns about liability issues regarding the evaluation and provision of accommodation letters for emotional support animals.

Michelle Robin Gould, LMHC and the Michelle Robin Gould Corporation expressly disclaim responsibility for the purchase, or use, or application of these materials by persons who are not mental health professionals. Furthermore, Michelle Robin Gould, LMHC and the Michelle Robin Gould Corporation are not liable for any unauthorized, improper, or incorrect use of these materials by any person or entity, regardless of their professional status. Users of this training and toolkit are responsible for exercising professional judgment and adhering to the standards of their profession where utilizing these materials.

Is providing the ESA service worth the professional liability risk?

Some of you will finish this training and think, Wow, that’s more involved than I thought. I don’t know if this is worth the risk for me. Yes, evaluating clients for emotional support animal interventions may be a lot of work. As with many of the aspects of our role as therapist, there are legal and ethical considerations, similar to the considerations that go into treatment planning, conducting biopsychosocial interviews, documenting sessions, and clarifying our policies and procedures. But one of the reasons we go through all the education and training that we go through to become licensed or certified as mental health care providers is so that we can protect our clients. That’s really what’s at the heart of this training. Yes, we need to understand the liability risks to us as professionals. But the reason we bother to learn about our liability risks is not just to protect ourselves - it’s to ensure that as professionals, we make clinically responsible decisions that protect our clients. If we do what we’re supposed to do based on industry standards, laws and rules, and our clients’ needs at the time of service, then I believe the risk is absolutely worth it.

How do I access the training and toolkit?

This course platform is accessible from desktop and laptop computers and mobile devices.  The software is mobile responsive, so the layout will differ slightly on each device. The toolkit materials can be accessed from desktop and mobile devices as well, though it is advisable to access them on a desktop computer when possible.

Questions about accommodations

This course and accompanying materials are available to any purchaser who is able to access the internet. This course was designed to meet WCAG 2.0 standards. If you experience any accessibility issues, please email Michelle at materials@michellerobingould.com to make arrangements for you in keeping with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

What are the system requirements for a quality course experience?

For a smooth technical experience, please use this tool to perform a system check. This tool tests your internet speed, operating system, browser, webcam, microphone, and audio output to see if there's anything that could interfere with your ability to experience your courses.

Do I need any additional software in order to use the editable tools in the toolkit?

Yes. You’ll need a Google account, ideally a Google Workspace account. To use Google Docs and Google Forms with HIPAA-compliant functionality, you will need a Google Workspace account with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). The cost of a Workspace account is not included in this training and toolkit. Follow the steps in this video to obtain the BAA once you’ve opened and logged into your Google Workspace account. A Google Workspace account will cost you anywhere from $6/month to $36/month, depending on which plan you choose and whether you pay monthly or annually.

Please be aware that while it is possible to save the Docs and Forms in the toolkit to your personal Google account, you will not be able to use them with clients from a personal Google account without compromising your clients’ privacy and jeopardizing your license with a HIPAA breach. In the training, I advise you to set up a work profile on your computer using this great tutorial on the nuances of managing multiple accounts in Google Chrome and how to set them up.

Do I have to complete the lessons in order?

The training is set up to be completed in sequential order on your first pass through the course. But once you’ve completed a lesson, you are free to jump around using the menu on the left. You can also collapse that menu if you wish. Note that the course player may display differently on different devices. You’ll have the same navigation options across devices; you may just find the navigation icons in different places depending on the device you’re using.

Instructor/Course Author Qualifications

This course was design and is presented by Michelle Robin Gould, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the state of Florida (MH17746), National Certified Counselor (308504), and Board-Certified TeleMental Health Provider (BC-TMH-25719). Michelle has a master's degree in mental health counseling from Nova Southeastern University (2012), has completed multiple trainings on conducting ESA evaluations and writing accommodation letters for clients’ ESAs, and offers this service in her private practice.

Along with education and practice as a mental health professional, Michelle has additional expertise in design and development of professional training courses and instructional materials. She has a second master’s degree in composition, rhetoric, and digital media from Nova Southeastern University (2017), and is a doctoral candidate in the Ed.D. program in instructional technology and distance education at Nova Southeastern University.

Michelle holds the Level 2: Instructional Designer and Learning Designer credentials from IDOL Courses Academy®, the only authorized trade school for instructional design and online learning.  

Michelle is the CEO of the Michelle Robin Gould Corporation. The Michelle Robin Gould Corporation has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7583. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Michelle Robin Gould Corporation is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Michelle can be reached about this course at materials@michellerobingould.com. Her psychotherapy practice website can be found at https://www.michellerobingould.com/. Her business address is 1200 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33432. Her business phone number is (561) 233-8502. 

Are continuing education hours offered for this course?

There are 3.75 NBCC CE hours available to qualified learners who successfully complete this version of the course. A qualified learner is a mental health professional whose professional licensing makes them eligible to earn NBCC CE hours.

Michelle Robin Gould Corporation has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7583. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Michelle Robin Gould Corporation is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.

Note that associate/intern psychotherapists and other health care providers who are are not eligible for CEs and may wish to sign up for the version of the course for which CEs are not available. You can find that version at https://training.michellerobingould.com/course/esa-evaluation-ethics-liabilities-letter-training.

Program Content and Learning Objectives


Program Content Description

This program educates qualified mental health professionals to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of clients for an emotional support animal (ESA) accommodation with adherence to current industry standards, to make informed, clinically sound decisions about whether to provide clients with emotional support animal accommodation letters, and to write clinically-supported emotional support animal accommodation letters that will hold up under professional standards in relevant industries.

Learning Objectives
As a result of using this training and toolkit, clinicians should be able to complete these learning objectives.

Unit 1: Conducting the Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Evaluation
  • Conduct thorough ESA accommodation evaluations, including information gathering, assessment, and documentation.
  • Formulate clinically appropriate decisions regarding the provision of ESA accommodation evaluation services.
  • Execute appropriately-worded ESA accommodation letters.

Unit 2: Complying with Laws and Preventing Liabilities
  • Use federal law, state law, industry standards of practice, and professional literature to clinically evaluate whether clients would benefit from ESA accommodations.
  • Recognize potential legal liability that may result in professional penalties when providing ESA accommodation evaluation services.
  • Appraise the legal and professional risks in writing an ESA letter for each client on a case-by-case basis.
  • Distinguish whether each client is better served by an ESA evaluation from their treating practitioner or a forensic practitioner.

Unit 3: Customizing the Toolkit for Field Use
  • Edit Google Docs and Google Forms with company branding.
  • Share Google Forms and Google Docs with external users (clients).
  • Find training videos and articles that facilitate quick use of Google Workspace.


Training Time 

You will notice in the introductory video that I talk about this as a six-hour course. The training’s 3.75 hour time frame does not include Unit 3, the toolkit templates, the reference list, or the linked content. Unit 3 and the toolkit templates will take you approximately 2.25 hours. Altogether, expect to spend somewhere around six hours on both the training and the toolkit.

If you decide to delve into the linked content, that will add additional study time. You will notice that when I reference outside resources throughout the body of the training (articles, websites, videos, etc.), those mentions contain anchor links to the content. Those links are there for your convenience. I chose to link to that content directly in the body of the training so it would be easy for you to access more information when you want it. However, the content you’ll find at those external links is not included in the 3.75 credit hours available, and you will not be tested on the linked material. While the content will give you a more nuanced understanding of providing the ESA accommodation evaluation and letter service, reading that content is optional. You are not obligated to click on any of the links.

Both Unit 3 and the toolkit are included in the course price. 

What are the assessment requirements for this course?

The course includes in-training exercises that must be completed to advance through the course. The purpose of these exercises is to provide practice, knowledge checks, and feedback. Exercise scores are not counted toward the final course assessment, and exercises may be repeated at will. 

The final course assessment is a 35-question multiple-choice posttest.  A score of 80% (28/35 correct) indicates successful completion of the posttest. You may retake the exam an unlimited number of times until you pass. Unit 3 content and the additional resources and references are not included in the posttest, but you will need to complete Unit 3 before the posttest is available to you.

A certificate of completion will be generated and 3.75 NBCC CE hours awarded after you successfully complete the posttest and the course evaluation. Please note that you are responsible for reporting your earned CE hours to the appropriate body. 

What is your course refund policy?

Digital products are non-refundable/non-transferable. ALL SALES ARE FINAL. This includes training content and material downloads and purchased copies. Concerns should be addressed to: Michelle at Michelle Robin Gould Corporation, 1200 North Federal Highway, Suite 200, Boca Raton, FL 33432 or to Michelle via email at materials@michellerobingould.com for a faster response.

To whom should I address complaints or grievances?

If you have trouble accessing the products or have questions about the content, please do not hesitate to get in touch by emailing Michelle at materials@michellerobingould.com. Note that this course provider, Michelle Robin Gould Corporation (the Company), is not responsible for access problems caused by insufficient internet access, inadequate bandwidth, faulty equipment, or failure to meet system requirements on the user’s end. Please see the above FAQ on system requirements for more information. 

If a participant or potential participant would like to express a concern about the Company or a continuing education program provided by the Company, the individual may call 561-223-8502 or email Michelle at materials@michellerobingould.com. Although the Company does not guarantee a particular outcome, Michelle will consider the complaint, make any necessary decisions, and respond within 72 hours.

Learners are reminded that professional courses and materials are intended for purchase and use by qualified mental health professionals. Michelle Robin Gould, LMHC and the Michelle Robin Gould Corporation expressly disclaim responsibility for the purchase, or use, or application of these materials by persons who are not mental health professionals. Furthermore, Michelle Robin Gould, LMHC and the Michelle Robin Gould Corporation are not liable for any unauthorized, improper, or incorrect use of these materials by any person or entity, regardless of their professional status. Users of this training and toolkit are responsible for exercising professional judgment and adhering to the standards of their profession where utilizing these materials.

Acquiring wisdom is great but it is not the goal, applying it is.

Idowu Koyenikan

By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

Benjamin Franklin

We are free to choose our paths, but we can't choose the consequences that come with them.

Sean Covey

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