Horticultural Therapy is a professionally conducted therapeutic program that uses plants, gardening, and nature to improve physical, cognitive, psychological, social, and vocational well-being. It benefits a wide range of populations and can address multiple areas of quality of life in a cost-effective manner.

1. Horticultural Therapy
HORT 335 - Sociohorticulture

2. Horticultural Therapy is…
• Horticulture in support of
therapy and rehabilitation
• A process through which
plants, gardening activities,
and the innate closeness
we all feel toward nature
are used as vehicles in professionally
conducted programs of therapy and
rehabilitation (Davis, 1994)

3. Horticultural Therapy is…
• The use of plants, gardens and nature as tools in a
therapeutic program
– Plants as Tools
• Walking on a treadmill….walking in a garden
• Lifting light weights….lifting plants in pots of soil
• Using a fork….planting a seed
– Therapeutic Program
• An activity leading to a Predicted Outcome – Direct or Indirect
• Cognitive, Physical, Social, Psychological Adjustment
• Target audience is often special populations, with
the goal of improving quality of life.
– Special Population
• Older Adults, People with high level Disability, Institutional Populations
– Quality of Life
• Physical, tangible life conditions
• Personal satisfaction with life conditions

4. The Warrior and Family Support
Center, San Antonio, Texas

5. Horticultural Therapy
Programming
• Meaningful, Short-Range Activities
– Propagation, potting, and transplanting
– Fast-growing plants – coleus, Swedish ivy
– Plants provide an opportunity to nurture and accept
responsibility for a living thing, but in a nonthreatening way
– Metaphors for “life” – needs are nourishment, care, and
environment, directly relatable to human life
• Different Therapeutic Approaches
– Interpersonal Approach – emphasizing interpersonal
relationships and communication on behavior; self-exploration
– Family Approach – therapy initiates change in the family
structure by modifying/clarifying boundaries, rules,
expectations

6. Horticultural Therapy
Programming
• Specific Treatment Variation
– Individual Therapy
• Medically involved patients, bed or homebound
• Goal to increase ability to work in the garden with
others
– Group Programming
• Addresses psycho-social needs
pertinent to recovery
– Cultural Differences
• Activities & plant materials can peak interest,
improve motivation

7. Horticultural Therapy
Programming
• Short-term Goal:
– Adaptation – provide tools, training, and
coping mechanisms to enable a return to
normal daily functioning in all areas of life
• Long-term Goal:
– Rehabilitation – return to normal daily
functioning in all areas of life without
special accommodations

8. Benefits of
Horticultural Therapy
• Intellectual/Cognitive
• Physical
• Social
• Emotional/Behavioral/
Psychological
• Vocational

10. Benefits of
Horticultural Therapy
• Intellectual Benefits
– Attainment of new skills.
– Enhanced vocabulary.
– Improved communication skills.
– Aroused sense of curiosity.
– Increased powers of observation.
– Vocational and prevocational training.
– Stimulation of sensory perception.

11. Benefits of
Horticultural Therapy
• Physical Benefits
– Basic Motor Skills
• Walking, balance, upper body
movement, lifting, bending,
stooping, pushing, pulling.
– Fine Motor Skills
• Hand-eye coordination, dexterity, use of hands.
– Increased Outdoor Activities
• Digging, raking, walking, exposure to sunlight.

12. Benefits of
Horticultural Therapy
• Social Benefits
– Learning appropriate behaviors
– Interactions within a group
• Instructor, volunteers, peers
– Interactions outside
the group
• Parents, guardians,
relatives,
public (sales, trips, etc.)

13. Benefits of
Horticultural Therapy
• Emotional / Psychological Benefits
– Increased self-confidence, self-worth and self-esteem.
– Opportunities to relieve aggressive drives and satisfy
creative drives.
– Activities promote
interests and enthusiasm
for the future.
– Delayed gratification.
– Opportunity to establish
new types of relationships.
– Nurturing and caring for another living organism.

14. Benefits of
Horticultural Therapy
• Vocational Benefits
– Increasing focus: providing employment skills.
– Trainable entry-level jobs
– A nursery or greenhouse is generally a safe,
nonthreatening environment in which to learn
basic job skills
• Being on time.
• Wearing appropriate dress.
• Staying on task.
• Following complex directions.
• Accepting feedback.
– Basic job skills are transferrable
to a non-horticultural job setting

15. Why is Horticultural Therapy
Effective?
• Horticulture is a very popular activity with many
positive associations.
– Takes one’s mind off personal problems.
– Increases socialization with others.
– Reinforces sense of
accomplishment.
– Helps to develop
outside interests.
– Allows someone who
has been a care
receiver to become
a care giver.
Increases self-esteem.

16. Horticultural Therapy:
Validation & Growth
• Clinical Practice
– Familiarity
• Gardening is a primary hobby of adult Americans.
• U.S. health care system is moving toward consumer choice.
• Consumer preference is for nonthreatening, familiar modes of
therapy and rehabilitation.
– Flexibility
• Diverse Medium
• Effective with:
– Physical, mental, & psychological disabilities;
– Children and elderly;
– Victims and abusers;
– Recovering individuals.
 Cost Effective

17. Horticultural Therapy:
Validation & Growth
• Current Need of Horticultural Therapy:
Recognition in the Health Care Community
– Physical Therapy/Rehabilitation
– Behavioral Therapy
– Occupational Therapy
• Research
– Anecdotal (qualitative) findings have served as the
“proving point” of horticultural therapy.
• Need for concrete numerical (quantitative) evidence of HT’s
impact and success.
– Publications
• Awareness to the general public, media, potential funders,
prospective horticultural therapists.
• HortTechnology & HortScience
• People-Plant Council

18. HT Application:
Special Populations
• Physical Disabilities
• Developmental Disabilities
• Mental Illness
• Older Adults

20. HT Application:
Special Populations
• Physical Disability - any impairment limiting the
physical function of one or more limbs or fine or gross
motor ability
– Considerations:
• Physical trauma or chronic illness may leave patient with
multiple disabilities disruptive to:
– Family life
– Future plans
– Work roles
– Body image
– Self-esteem, security, independence
– May result in loss of social contact, psychological integrity
– Target Areas: Physical, Social, Emotional

21. HT Application:
Special Populations
• Developmental Disability – impairment constituting a
substantial disability; originates before 18 y.o., expected
to continue indefinitely
• ADHD, Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome
– Considerations:
• Widely varying degrees of functionality, increasing life expectancy.
• More individuals living independently or semi-independently.
– Vocational Skills
– Age-Appropriate Leisure Skills
– Community Activities
– Increased Sense of Responsibility
– Addressing Behavioral Issues
– Target Areas: Full Range
• Vocational Training & Work Skills
• Communication & Socialization Skills
• Fine & Gross Motor Control. (due to Motor and/or Sensory
Impairment)
• Difficulty in Verbal Communication

22. HT Application:
Special Populations
• Mental Illness - medical condition that disrupts a
person's thinking, feeling, mood, ability to relate to
others and daily functioning
• Cognitive Disorders, Psychotic Disorders, Mood Disorders, Anxiety Disorder,
Substance-Related Disorders
– Approx. 22% of general population
– Considerations
• Physical Health Issues
– Often exacerbated by mental health problems
• Social Issues
– Vary due to socioeconomic status
– Target Areas: Psychological, Emotional, Social,
Vocational
• Create environments that promote and allow growth, free from
stigma and lack of understanding

23. HT Application:
Special Populations
• Older Adults – persons aged 65 or older
• Heart Disease, Cancer, Stroke, Chronic Disease (Arthritis, Diabetes), Medication
– 1 in 8 individuals in the population
– Considerations
• Motivating participation
– Involve participants in planning the program.
– Utilize staff, volunteers, and family.
– Have participants assist each other.
– Encourage initiative.
• Adaptive Tools & Conditions
– Wheelchair access, raised beds
– Light-weight media, containers, tools
– Visual Distinctions
– Target Areas: Physical,
Emotional, Social
• Physical health, living and self-care
independence, and social interaction with peers

24. Horticultural Therapy
Opportunities
• American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA)
– Nonprofit formed in 1973
– Mission: to promote and advance the profession of
horticultural therapy
– Horticultural Therapist-Registered (HTR)

25. In summary –
Horticultural Therapy is…
• using plants as rehabilitative and therapeutic
tools.
• a professionally conducted program.
• beneficial to multiple areas of quality of life
(Physical, Intellectual, Psychological,
Emotional, Social, Vocational)
• versatile, cost-effective, and proven to work.
• especially applicable to special populations.
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