Service Dog Prescription: How Do I Get One?

To be eligible for a psychiatric service dog prescription, you must have a mental health condition that significantly limits your ability to perform major life activities. While there isn’t a specific list of qualifying conditions, individuals with a wide range of mental health disorders may be eligible. Common conditions that may qualify for a PSD include:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Depression
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety
• Major Depressive Disorder
• Bipolar Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Schizophrenia

Ultimately, it’s up to your licensed mental healthcare professional to evaluate your condition and determine whether a psychiatric service dog would be a beneficial part of your treatment plan.

There are two key steps involved in getting a psychiatric service dog prescription:

• Ensure Your Dog is Trained: Your dog must be individually trained to perform specific tasks that directly relate to your disability. Consider working with a professional trainer who specializes in psychiatric service dogs to ensure your dog meets the necessary standards and can perform these critical tasks reliably.
• Consult a Licensed Mental Health Professional (LMHP): An LMHP can assess your mental health condition and determine if a psychiatric service dog would be beneficial. They will evaluate your specific needs and provide a prescription to support your request for a PSD.

• Patient Information: Your full name, contact details, and date of birth.
• Diagnosis and Disability: A detailed diagnosis of your mental health condition and how it affects your daily life.
• Service Dog Tasks: Specific tasks your PSD is trained to perform, such as providing emotional support, interrupting self-harm behaviors, or retrieving items. These tasks are crucial as they demonstrate how the PSD assists by performing tasks that help alleviate various mental health symptoms.
• Necessity of the PSD: An explanation of why a psychiatric service dog is essential for your well-being and how it helps manage symptoms.
• LMHP Information: The licensed mental health professional’s name, license number, and contact details.

Only licensed mental health professionals can prescribe a psychiatric service dog. Qualified professionals include:

• Therapists
• Psychiatrists
• Psychologists
• Mental Health Counselors
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
• Licensed Nurse Practitioners
• Physicians

These professionals are trained to assess mental health conditions and can determine if a psychiatric service dog is an appropriate part of your treatment plan. They also provide essential mental health services, including evaluations for PSD prescriptions.

While it is possible to obtain a psychiatric service dog letter before your dog completes training, it’s not recommended for two reasons.

• Legal Rights: Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), dogs that are still in training have limited legal rights compared to fully trained psychiatric service dogs. This means your dog may not yet be granted full public access rights during the training period.
• Letter Validity: Training a service dog typically takes six months to one year. Since a PSD letter is generally valid for one year, much of the validity period could expire while your dog is still in training. It’s more practical to wait until your dog is fully trained and able to perform the necessary tasks before obtaining the letter.

• Consult with a Mental Health Professional: To begin, work with your mental health professional to identify the specific tasks your dog needs to perform to assist with your mental health condition. This collaboration ensures that the training addresses your unique challenges, and it may be necessary for obtaining your psychiatric service dog prescription letter.
• Choose a Suitable Breed: Select a breed known for its calm, gentle, and patient temperament. Popular choices for psychiatric service dogs include Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and German Shepherds. These breeds are typically well-suited for individuals who have received a psychiatric service dog prescription. When choosing a dog, it’s important to consider factors such as size and energy level to match your needs and lifestyle.

• Start Training Early: Begin socializing your dog as early as possible, preferably when they are a puppy. Early exposure to various environments, such as restaurants, stores, and public transportation, helps build their confidence and appropriate behavior in public spaces. This early training is crucial, especially if you’re working toward a psychiatric service dog prescription.
• Find a Qualified Trainer: Look for a trainer experienced in working with service dogs, particularly those trained for psychiatric support. The trainer should customize the program based on your specific needs and the dog’s abilities. This personalized approach ensures the dog is properly trained to assist with your condition, making it easier to validate your service dog prescription.
• Focus on Specific Tasks: You’ll need to teach your dog specific tasks tailored to your mental health needs. For instance, they can be trained to provide emotional support during stressful moments or to interrupt harmful behaviors, such as self-harm. By focusing on these tasks, your dog will be able to meet the requirements needed to support your psychiatric service dog prescription.