This video is a recording from a live webinar presented offered by Dr. Aaron Norton of the National Board of Forensic Evaluators (NBFE), who provided a comprehensive overview of legal, ethical, and clinical considerations for addressing client requests for emotional support animal (ESA) letters in October 2021 as an update to an older presentation in 2018. This recording includes changes in public policy related to ESAs that went into effect in 2020.

This video was created to offer answers to important questions about ESA letters requests, such as:
• How does federal law protect ESAs?
• What does the law say must be provided to document the need for an ESA?
• When it an ESA letter appropriate or inappropriate?
• What sources of data does a mental health professional use when assessing the appropriateness of an ESA letter?
• What should a letter include?
• What liability does a healthcare professional accept when writing a letter, and how can a professional protect themselves from liability?
• What happens when a healthcare practitioner is courtordered to testify in court about an ESA letter?

Important Links Referred to During the Video:
• Handouts downloadable at https://nortonconsulting.box.com/v/ES...
• “On demand” webinar registration for health professionals seeking continuing education (CE) hours for this event: https://nbfe.net/event4698668'>https://nbfe.net/event4698668
• DSM5TR online assessment measures: https://www.psychiatry.org/psychiatri...

Due to copyright/ownership issues, some footage was removed from the recording and replaced with slides directing viewers to other videos for supplemental information, including:
• “My Dinosaur Is a Service Animal” (timestamp 01:24:02):    • My Dinosaur Is a Service Animal (with...  
• “Emotional Support Peacock Denied Seat on Plane” (timestamp 01:24:16):    • Emotional Support Peacock Denied Seat...  
• “Airlines Ban Emotional Support Animals After Years of Fraud and Hazards” (timestamp 01:25:39):    • Airlines ban emotional support animal...  

Disclaimer: This video was posted for educational purposes only. Licensed healthcare professionals seeking continuing education (CE) hours for this training must register at https://nbfe.net/event4698668'>https://nbfe.net/event4698668 in order to complete the training.

Learning Objectives:
1. Define emotional support animals (ESAs) and differentiate ESAs from service animals, therapy animals, and pets.
2. Describe the legal and ethical ramifications for recommending ESAs for clients with emphasis on recent changes in federal law.
3. Differentiate between potentially harmful or problematic uses of ESA letters and therapeutic and clinicallyrelevant uses of ESA letters.
4. List several recommended practices, tools, and resources for addressing requests for ESA eligibility letters.