13 Facts Every ESA Owner in Texas Should Know

On January 28th, 2020, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued new guidance regarding Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) in housing.

(*This is a very important development for owners of ESAs and it is the first comprehensive update to ESA housing rules made since 2013.)

13 Facts Every Current or Potential Owner of Emotional Support Animals (ESA) in Texas Should Know

Dogs, cats, small birds, rabbits, hamsters, other rodents and even turtles can be ESAs.

Landlords are required to engage in interactive dialogue with tenants about ESA requests.

ESA requests can be made orally or in writing (ESA Letter will still be required for approval)

Tenants can make an ESA request before or after acquiring their ESA Letter

HUD confirms that landlords are not allowed to refuse based on breed/weight restrictions.

Landlords are prevented from being able to charge fees and deposits for ESAs.

Landlords are expected to respond to ESA requests promptly, and at least within 10 days.

Landlords cannot require your healthcare professional to use a specific form for their ESA Letter

Landlords cannot request sensitive details about the tenant’s condition (your privacy protected)

HOAs and Co-Ops are also subject to ESA rules

Tenants can use the help of third-parties to care for their ESAs

Registrations and licenses are NOT legitimate ways to qualify an ESA

ESA letters can come from online health professionals (must be licensed in your State)

All current and prospective owners of ESAs in Texas should become familiar with these new rules which are now in effect and replace the 2013 rules.

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Counseling for Stress and Anxiety

Feeling down? Stressed? Anxious? Maybe you just want to talk to someone who will REALLY listen? Maybe you also want that person to be trained and experienced – someone whose advice you can feel confident of. Counseling for stress and anxiety might be new to you, and that’s okay. But if you’re struggling with the pressures of life, this may be the perfect time for it.

Yes, we all live in a stressful world, especially in the past couple of years. It can feel like there is little time to relax, take care of ourselves and even our relationships. No, we can’t change the past but we can certainly learn from it. Most of us do everything we can to make our lives more stable. And many of us have pushed ourselves to extreme limits to weather the challenges of life and the pandemic. That’s too often what we do. When it comes to pushing our limits to the edge, we often disregard the negative impact on our lives. And yes, it is normal for everyone to at some point experience and encounter stressful events and situations along the way and in some cases most of the time.

So, what can we do? We can learn to train our mind not to be imprisoned by past negative events and even more so, to increase our focus on the positive events in our lives. Some anxiety is absolutely normal – we worry about our relationships going bad, how our children are getting on, how long we will keep our jobs, what will be the results of the medical tests we have just had, how we will do in the exams. This is real life. Short-term anxiety heightens our responses and reactions, helping us to deal with stressful situations. The problem is resolved, the question answered, we have something to work with, and then our anxiety subsides. Pretty normal run of short-term, mild anxiety as a sort of motivator.

When Is It Too Much?

Excessive anxiety is all about the “too much” ; too much worry, too much stress, too much adrenaline – leading to shaking, sweating, sleeplessness, a churning stomach, palpitations, even panic attacks and antisocial behavior. The anxiety might have had a real trigger at first, but then we start feeling that we have lost control over that aspect of our lives. When this happens, our anxiety can seem to move out of control, too. This living in a state of hyper-arousal can threaten our physical, mental and emotional well-being.

Sometimes, this problem hinders the most important things that you used to do. This keeps you from growing, engaging and developing in regards to relationships, works, college and other activities. So what happens when you feel like something isn’t right and you can’t solve it by yourself?

Maybe that’s a sign that it’s time to reach out and get some help. If you are already stuck and overwhelmed, why waste any more time in that space? Sitting in emotional and cognitive quicksand doesn’t serve you at all. This is your life – you want to spend it well.

Choosing to reach out and get help is like opening your own personal doorway for change. Yes, there are several ways; joining a support group, adopting a health-focused lifestyle or even seeing if you are a candidate for an Emotional Support Animal (ESA).

Whatever path you take, at your core, you are likely looking to secure a positive and sustainable change for yourself. This means personal growth and learning are a must. And when it comes to learning how to manage your anxiety and stress, working with an ethical, experienced and skilled professional counselor can really help.

Why not call today and find out how one-to-one counseling could help you narrow down the causes of your anxiety and also help you acquire the skills to tackle it?