A psychiatric service dog is trained to perform tasks for a person with a psychiatric disability, and it carries the strongest legal protections any assistance animal can have. Our licensed clinicians evaluate you, document your disability related need, and support your housing and air travel requests.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service animal is a dog individually trained to perform tasks directly related to a person's disability. For psychiatric service dogs, those tasks might include interrupting a panic attack, applying deep pressure during anxiety episodes, waking someone from night terrors, reminding a handler to take medication, or guiding them to a safe place during dissociation.
Because of that training, a PSD goes far beyond housing. It may accompany you in restaurants, stores, hotels, offices, classrooms, and nearly every public space, and airlines must carry it in the cabin free of charge under Department of Transportation rules.
The law does not require a certificate for a service dog, and no legitimate national registry exists. What you do need, in practice, is documentation of your psychiatric disability from a licensed professional. Airlines ask for it when you complete the DOT attestation form. Landlords ask for it when your dog is still in training and only housing law applies. Schools and employers ask for it when you request accommodations.
Our clinicians evaluate you, confirm your disability related need for a task trained dog, and issue a signed letter you can rely on in each of those conversations. We also give you straightforward guidance on task training, whether you train your dog yourself, which the ADA fully permits, or work with a professional trainer.
Training your dog yourself? The ADA allows owner training, and a dog in training is protected in housing while you work toward full public access. Your clinician letter documents the disability side while your training log documents the task side.
Since the Department of Transportation revised its Air Carrier Access Act rules, airlines no longer accept emotional support animals in the cabin, but they must accept trained psychiatric service dogs. You complete the DOT Service Animal Transportation form attesting to your dog's training and behavior, and the airline carries your dog at no charge.
Many travelers keep clinician documentation on hand because airline staff and international carriers frequently ask for it, and because it resolves disputes quickly. Our PSD letter is written with those situations in mind, and our team can walk you through each airline's process before you book.
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One flat fee covers the clinical evaluation, your signed documentation, and support for airline and landlord verification.
No. The ADA explicitly allows handlers to train their own service dogs. What matters is that the dog is trained to perform specific tasks related to your disability and behaves reliably in public. Our team can point you to reputable task training resources if you are starting out.
No. Any website selling service dog registration, certification, or ID cards is selling something with no legal standing. Businesses may only ask whether the dog is required because of a disability and what tasks it performs. Clinician documentation matters in housing, air travel, and accommodation requests, which is what our letter provides.
Yes. The ADA does not restrict breeds, and airlines may not refuse a service dog based on breed alone. The dog must be under control, housebroken, and trained for its tasks. Temperament matters far more than breed.
Clinicians commonly document psychiatric service dogs for post traumatic stress, panic disorder, severe anxiety, major depression, bipolar disorder, and similar conditions where trained tasks provide direct support. Whether a PSD is appropriate for you is determined during your evaluation.
An ESA letter covers housing only and requires no training. A PSD letter documents your need for a dog trained to perform tasks, which unlocks public access and cabin air travel in addition to housing rights. If you are unsure which fits, start the assessment and the clinician will advise you.
Complete your PSD assessment today and speak with a clinician licensed in your state. Full refund if you are not approved.