[mscat]

Yes, i do believe that it differs from state to state. And yes, Psych. disabilities are recognized by the ADA. Every State has to follow the law under the ADA, that does not change. When asking a "service dog" it is typically reffered to as seeking resonable accomadations. It is all a matter of terminalogy .
A therapist does NOT have the qualifications to write a letter for a service animal legally. He or she can reccomend one, however, a Psychatrist is the one who does specialize in menatl health disabilites and is trained to treat them accordingly.. Has more authority and say so in what kind of treatment A patient needs. There is not a fee for a written letter from your Psych Doctor, however they need to approve of the treatment, and support the helpfullness of a Animal. Without that then it will be difficult for a person to have one. The person needs to be recieving treatment and under a Doctors care, AND the disability needs to be severe enough to warraent a service animal.
The animal can be trained by a professional of the individual. When it comes to the law, it is very specific , and it falls under the ADA. Anxiety can be quite serious in some people, which also may include panic attacks or panic disorder .
A lot of mental disorders have overlap into other disorders too. A person can have one, then many other things going on too. LIke i mentioned before the disorder needs to be severe enough to be treated and a Psychatrist needs to support the treatment.
It is a process , and it is something that just does not happen overnight , meaning a person can claim they have such and such, however, it is The Psychatrist to decide and what type of treatment the person needs. SUch as the Doctor needs to agree and diagnose.
Sometimes a person does not need a service dog because the disorder can be treated quicky or is not that serious. Not everybody needs a service animal and sometimes someone may think they do but don't.
the service animal vests and badges are nice because it idenifys the dog as working and therefore allowed in stores, and other establishments. Even getting those things you need to show proof that the animal is a service dog. It is against the law not to say the dog is one, and is not.
I'd reccomend the first thing for a person to do is to be in treatment by a Psychatrist for any mental health concern, establish an ongoing treatment plan, seeing the doctor regularly , following the plan, and let the psych doctor be the one to decide if a service animal is helpful. It is all a process.
I never even thought of a service animal until years later from treatment. Then was placed on perm. Disability through Social Security /getting SSDI. ANd in an out of Hospitals, Surgeries , medications , and even 5150'ed . The Psych doctor did not hesitate to write a professional letter for a service animal. i've had Suzi for 9 months now.