ESA Evaluation
Emotional Support Animal Clinical Evaluations
A professional clinical evaluation for Florida residents, provided by Aileen Abello Rivera, LMHC, Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida. The evaluation determines whether an ESA recommendation is clinically appropriate. A letter is never guaranteed.
Please read before booking
ESA recommendation letters are never guaranteed. A letter is issued only when, in the clinician's professional judgment, an Emotional Support Animal is clinically appropriate following a comprehensive evaluation.
Scheduling or paying does not mean you qualify. Having a pet or experiencing stress does not, by itself, make an ESA recommendation appropriate.
Step 1 of 5
Check eligibility
Make sure this evaluation is right for you before booking.
A comprehensive clinical evaluation of whether an Emotional Support Animal is clinically appropriate. Payment is for clinician time and evaluation, not for a letter.
Who this is for
Adults ages 18 and older who are physically located in Florida at the time of the appointment, experience a mental-health condition that meaningfully affects daily functioning, and want a professional assessment of whether an emotional support animal is clinically appropriate.
Separate from therapy
The ESA evaluation is a focused clinical evaluation. It is separate from ongoing psychotherapy and does not, by itself, start an ongoing therapy relationship.
Florida requirement
Because licensure is state-based, evaluations are available only to clients physically located in Florida at the time of the appointment.
What's included
- A comprehensive clinical interview with a licensed mental health counselor
- Assessment of functional impairment and whether an animal is clinically indicated
- Clear, written clinical documentation when a letter is appropriate
- Time to ask questions about the process and next steps
What's not included
- A guaranteed ESA letter or any predetermined outcome
- Service animal certification, training, or public-access rights
- Airline, breed, or weight approvals from any third party
- Ongoing therapy (available separately), or registry or certificate purchases
Step 2 of 5
Schedule your evaluation
Pick a time on the secure online calendar. Your required paperwork is completed in the next step, using the downloadable packet.
Step 3 of 5
Download & complete your packet
This is a fillable PDF form. Download it, type your answers directly into the fields, save the file, and email it back before your appointment.
ESA Evaluation Client Packet
Telehealth consent, privacy notice, evaluation agreement and financial policies, the adult ESA evaluation questionnaire with the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 screening forms, and an optional records-release authorization. Fill in every field you can.
Download packetWhen your packet is complete, email the saved file to aileen@virtualtherapyfl.com at least 24 hours before your appointment. Please send them from your own email address so I can reply to you directly.
Step 4 of 5
Pay the evaluation fee
One secure payment of $150. Checkout collects only your name, email, and payment details. Never enter symptoms, diagnoses, medications, clinical history, or other sensitive clinical information at checkout. Clinical information and required intake documentation are handled separately through the practice's secure intake process.
ESA Evaluation — $150
The $150 fee covers the professional clinical evaluation. Payment does not guarantee that an ESA recommendation or letter will be issued.
Your evaluation fee includes
- Initial ESA clinical evaluation
- ESA documentation only if clinically appropriate
- Additional animal evaluated during the same appointment
- Landlord/HOA form requiring additional clinician work — up to 2 documents by email and/or a 15-minute call
- Simple verification of your letter or the clinician's credentials
Step 5 of 5
What happens next
Here's what to expect after you schedule, send your packet, and pay.
Clinical evaluation
Meet with Aileen for a live, virtual clinical evaluation focused on your history, symptoms, and daily functioning.
Clinical determination
Aileen determines whether an ESA recommendation is clinically appropriate, based on the evaluation and applicable professional requirements. You are told the determination clearly.
Documentation, if appropriate
If an ESA recommendation is clinically appropriate, the documentation is prepared after the evaluation. If it is not, no letter is issued.
ESA, service animal, or therapy animal?
Emotional Support Animal
Provides disability-related emotional support when clinically appropriate. An ESA is not required to have task training.
Service Animal
A separately defined category: animals individually trained to perform specific disability-related tasks. This evaluation does not certify service animals.
Therapy Animal
Typically works with a handler to bring comfort to other people in settings such as hospitals, schools, or care facilities.
This is general information, not legal advice.
ESA questions
What is an emotional support animal?
An animal that provides disability-related emotional support to a person when a licensed clinician determines it is clinically appropriate.
Does scheduling an evaluation guarantee an ESA letter?
No. You are paying for a professional clinical evaluation. A letter is issued only when, in the clinician's professional judgment, an emotional support animal is clinically appropriate.
How much does the evaluation cost?
The ESA evaluation fee is $150. It covers the professional clinical evaluation, one additional animal evaluated during the same appointment, one landlord/HOA form (up to 2 documents by email and/or a 15-minute call), and simple verification of your letter or the clinician's credentials.
What happens during the evaluation?
A live, virtual clinical interview about your history, symptoms, and daily functioning, plus time to ask questions. Please send your completed packet beforehand.
How long does the process take?
It depends on appointment availability and on receiving your completed packet at least 24 hours before your appointment. Same-day documentation is not promised.
Can you complete a landlord or HOA form?
One landlord or HOA form requiring additional clinician work is included (up to 2 documents by email and/or a 15-minute call). Additional forms may involve an added administrative fee, quoted in advance.
Can more than one animal be considered?
Yes. An additional animal can be evaluated during the same appointment at no extra cost, but each animal must be clinically justified individually. Documentation for more than one animal is not automatic.
Is an ESA the same as a service animal?
No. Service animals are a separately defined category of animals trained to perform specific tasks. This evaluation does not certify service animals.
Do I need to be an ongoing therapy client?
No. The ESA evaluation is a focused clinical evaluation, separate from ongoing therapy. Therapy is available separately if you want it.
Policies
Cancellation & rescheduling
Cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your appointment for a full refund or free rebooking.
No-show
Missed appointments without 24 hours' notice are charged in full, as the clinical time was reserved for you.
Refunds
The evaluation fee covers clinician time and professional judgment. It is not refundable once the evaluation has taken place, including when the determination is that an ESA is not clinically appropriate.
Renewals
Renewals require an updated clinical evaluation and are charged at the standard evaluation rate.
Additional forms & letters
One landlord or HOA form requiring additional clinician work is included in your fee — up to 2 documents by email and/or a 15-minute call with the clinician. Additional forms, questionnaires, or copies beyond that may involve an added administrative fee, quoted in advance.
Multiple animals
An additional animal can be evaluated during the same appointment at no extra cost. Each animal must be clinically justified individually.
Age requirement
ESA evaluations are currently available to adults ages 18 and older who are physically located in Florida at the time of the appointment.
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