PSD letters for Texas handlers

What makes a dog a psychiatric service dog

Training, not diagnosis. Under the ADA a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability, and Texas Human Resources Code §121.002(1) uses the same idea: a canine specially trained or equipped to help a person with a disability.

For a psychiatric service dog, those tasks answer a mental health condition such as PTSD, panic disorder or severe anxiety. Calm company alone doesn't count; that's what an emotional support animal provides.

• Interrupting nightmares or flashbacks by waking or nudging you
• Deep pressure therapy during a panic attack
• Creating space around you in a crowd or checkout line
• Bringing medication or a phone when symptoms hit
• Guiding you to an exit or a quiet spot during dissociation

What the letter does in Texas housing

Housing is where a PSD letter earns its keep. When your disability isn't obvious, a landlord may ask for reliable information about it and about your need for the dog. The letter answers that request without sharing your diagnosis.

Texas goes further for trained animals than for ESAs. Human Resources Code §121.003(h) says a person with a service animal may not be required to pay extra compensation or a deposit for it, though you're still liable for damage beyond normal wear. The Texas Apartment Association's animal addendum says the same about fees for assistance and service animals.

Federal enforcement now points the same direction. HUD's May 22, 2026 memo treats waiving a pet policy for an animal trained to perform disability tasks as presumptively reasonable, while untrained ESAs get a case-by-case review.

Where you don't need a letter

In stores, restaurants, hotels and other places open to the public, the ADA lets staff ask only two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability, and what task it's trained to perform. They can't demand papers, a vest or a demonstration.

Flights work differently again. Airlines can ask for the DOT service animal forms, which you fill out about your dog's training, health and behavior. A clinician's letter isn't the document they rely on, though some handlers carry one anyway.

How the evaluation works

The visit is the same short phone or video appointment our ESA clients have, with one difference: the clinician asks about the specific tasks your dog performs and how they relate to your symptoms.

1. Book a timePick a phone or video slot and complete a short intake about you and your dog. Booking is free.
2. Talk it throughA licensed clinician asks about your symptoms and the trained tasks your dog performs, usually in 5–10 minutes.
3. Get your letterIf the clinician finds a disability-related need, your signed PDF letter usually arrives the same day. If not, you pay nothing.

Training is your part

No clinician can train a dog or certify that it's trained, and neither can a registry or an ID card. The letter covers you, the handler: your disability and your need. Teaching the tasks, whether you train the dog yourself or work with a trainer, comes first.

Be honest about where your dog is. Under Human Resources Code §121.006, knowingly calling an untrained animal a service or assistance animal is a Texas misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $1,000 and 30 hours of community service. If your dog helps by being there rather than by doing tasks, an ESA letter is the accurate choice.