title: Examining Emotional Support Animals and Role Conflicts in Professional Psychology.
abstract: This article examines the role conflicts that psychologists may face in their practices related to the evaluation and certification of emotional support animals (ESAs). It reviews the legal differences between ESAs and service animals (SAs), outlines ethical guidelines and legal policies/regulations regarding the use of ESAs, and examines the potential role conflicts that exist when a treating psychologist is certifying the need for an ESA. Finally, it makes recommendations to assist psychologists in staying within the standards of practice in order to avoid the ethical and legal risks associated with certifying an ESA.
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri.
authors.forename: Jeffrey N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Younggren
authors.affiliation: Beverly Hills and Long Beach, California.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Boisvert
authors.affiliation: University of Missouri.
authors.forename: Cassandra L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Boness
keywords: emotional service animals; ethics; role conflicts; service animals