ESAs in depth: Understanding the Risks, Benefits, Opportunities, and Challenges of Emotional Support Animals

The presence of emotional support animals (ESAs) in the mental health profession has grown significantly in the last few years.  Practitioners, both in and outside of mental health, have received a surge of requests for letters in support of ESAs; however professional consensus and guidelines are lacking, thus leaving many counselors and other therapists in the dark on how to support their clients.  In order to help counselors who may encounter ESAs in their profession, the presenters will first discuss what ESAs are, how they are different from other helper animals, and their governing bodies and obligations and limitations therein.  Practitioners will learn how ESAs may benefit clients and what research has supported thus far.  Practitioners will also learn of the risks inherent in ESAs, including to the handler, animal, public, and their professional liability.  Discussion will include how ESAs may be encountered in general mental health practice as well as with adolescents and in schools.
This presentation will culminate with concrete recommendations for counselors upon receiving a request for a letter in support of an ESA and a question and answer forum with a counselor educator and clinician, nationally recognized for her expertise in animal-assisted interventions.

Presented by:

Timothy Hakenworth, Ed.S., LPC, NCC

Jehan Hill, M.Ed, LPC

Leslie Stewart, PhD, LPC

   

Wednesday, November 14 - 1PM to 5PM (4 CE hours)