Psychiatric Service Animal Letters

Are you Anxious? Depressed? Have Panic Attacks? Fear of Flying?

You may be eligible for a psychiatric service animal letter to allow your animal access to public buildings and airplanes.

What is a Psychiatric Service Animal?

  • Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a service animal is defined as an animal that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the animal must be directly related to the person's disability.
  • Psychiatric service animals are categorized as a type of service animal.
  • Only dogs are allowed to be psychiatric service animals.
  • Psychiatric service animals must be trained to perform a specific task. You may either train the animal yourself or hire a professional trainer.
  • Your psychiatric service animal must be trained to behave appropriately in public and must be able to pass the General Public Access Test.
  • Under the ADA, state and local governments, businesses, and nonprofit organizations that serve the public generally must allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is allowed to go.

Who Can Be Evaluated for A Psychiatric Service Animal Letter?

Carla Mannino LCSW-R, CAS, CCTP, CAMS is licensed to practice within the following states: New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, California, and Massachusetts. Individuals who are 18 years or older, and live in one of the above-listed states, are eligible for an evaluation.

What are the Necessary Qualifications to be Eligible for a Psychiatric Service Animal Letter?

Eligibility is NOT guaranteed. You MUST have a debilitating mental health disability (diagnosed by a licensed mental health professional) that requires you to have a psychiatric service animal to perform a specific trained task.

What Does the Psychiatric Service Animal Letter Evaluation Process Entail?

The evaluation requires a mental health assessment. During this session, Carla will obtain detailed information about an individual’s difficulties in order to make an accurate diagnosis and determine if he or she qualifies for a psychiatric service animal letter.

How Many Psychiatric Service Animals Can I Have?

Carla assesses individuals for one psychiatric service animal (dogs only).

Are There Any Breed Restrictions?

Carla does not provide letters for the following aggressive breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, Doberman Pinscher, Rottweiler, Akita Inu, Presa Canario, Tosa Inu, Mastiff, Gull Dong (Pakistani Bull Dog), Bandog, Chow Chow, Great Dane, Alaskan Malamute, Siberian Husky, Caucasian Ocharka, and Wolf Hybrid.

Are You a Licensed Mental Health Provider?

Carla Mannino, LCSW-R, CAS, CCTP, CAMS is a New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, Florida, California, and Massachusetts state-licensed clinical social worker, and the founder of Gotham Psychotherapy. She specializes in integrative psychotherapy for individuals, couples, families, and groups. 

Carla holds a master's degree from New York University. She also been certified by The American Academy of Health Care Providers in the Addictive Disorders as a Certified Addiction Specialist (alcohol, drug, eating, sex, and gambling), the International Association of Trauma Professionals as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, the National Anger Management Association as a Certified Anger Management Specialist, and has completed additional professional coursework in service animal assessment. Carla maintains a full-time private practice in New York City, conveniently located on the 26th floor of The Chrysler Building in Manhattan.

What is the Charge for a Psychiatric Service Animal Letter? What Does it Include?

The charge for this service is $395. If you are eligible, you will receive a psychiatric service animal letter and any extended support services (required forms, phone calls, emails, etc.) that you may need related to your psychiatric service animal.

Does My Psychiatric Service Animal Letter Expire?

Your psychiatric service animal letter is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Should you wish to have your letter renewed, you will need to contact Carla to be reevaluated. The cost to renew this letter is $150.

How Do I Schedule an Appointment?

To schedule an appointment, please call or text Carla at (212) 810-1724 or carla@gothampsychotherapy.com.

Gotham Psychotherapy is proud to support the care and maintenance of the Washington Square Park Dog Run in the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City.
Gotham Psychotherapy is proud to support the care and maintenance of the Washington Square Park Dog Run in the heart of Greenwich Village in New York City.