If you experience anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition, you may have considered getting a psychiatric service animal. Although these animals often have a beneficial effect on their owner’s mental health, it’s important to do your research before getting one. To help you get started, here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about psychiatric service animals.

Psychiatric Service Animal FAQ

What kinds of assistance animals are there?

There are three kinds of certifications used to classify assistance animals: service, therapy, and emotional support. Psychiatric service animals are the only assistance animals covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), making them the only type that can be brought into public establishments. Therapy animals provide comfort as needed, while emotional support animals typically live with those they help. Additionally, both psychiatric service animals and emotional support animals are entitled to travel with their handlers; therapy animals, however, are not. 

What do psychiatric service animals do?

Unlike therapy and emotional support animals, psychiatric service animals are trained to assist a specific individual in various ways. They may live with their handler even if their handler’s living space has a “no pets” policy, and they may accompany their handler virtually everywhere. In addition to improving the quality of their owner’s mental health by providing emotional support, these animals also perform a variety of tasks. For example, they might conduct room searches to ease their handler’s anxiety, or they might interrupt dangerous impulsive behavior such as self-harm. Other responsibilities may include alerting their handler of noises that are hard to hear, reminding them to take medication, and guiding the individual during seizures.

Can I train my own psychiatric service animal?

The ADA does not require service animals to receive professional training. That means you can train your own animal. However, for your animal to qualify for certification, you must train it to perform tasks that are directly related to your disability or mental health condition. Additionally, you may only train a dog to be a service animal under the ADA’s requirements. Cats and other animals do not qualify.

How do I register a psychiatric service animal?

There are various services that can help handlers register their animals. For a small fee, your animal can have all the rights and protections granted under the ADA. Make sure to do your research before choosing a service. Look for a reputable agency that has a track record of satisfied clients and understands both the federal and state laws that apply to your situation. 

To discuss your mental health with a compassionate clinician and learn whether a psychiatric service animal is right for you, turn to Lincoln Psychiatric Group. Serving individuals, couples, and families throughout Lancaster County, NE, since 1939, this practice consists of counselors and psychiatrists who can treat a broad range of mental health conditions. Learn more about them on their website or call (402) 476-7557 to make an appointment.