The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy

The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy is a comprehensive guide to the theories that horticultural therapists use as a foundation for their practice and provides wide-ranging illustrative models of programming. This book aims to enhance understanding and provide insight into the profession for both new and experienced practitioners. It is directed to students in the field, along with health care and human service professionals, to successfully develop and manage horticultural therapy programming.

The book is organized into four sections: an overview of the horticultural therapy profession, theories supporting horticultural therapy use, models for programs, and tools for the therapist.

Areas of focus include:

• Overview of the profession, including the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to practice
• Discussion of related people-plant endeavors and theories supporting horticultural therapy
• Issues within the profession of horticultural therapy, including employment models, professionalism and ethics, and credentials
• Characteristics and implementation of therapeutic, vocational, and wellness program models
• Accommodations and adaptive techniques to best serve the needs of all participants
• Strategies for assessment and documentation for horticultural therapy intervention
• Issues for managing programs including how horticultural therapy programs collaborate with other disciplines, determining program costs and budget, managing staff and growing spaces, and conducting program evaluations

Horticultural therapy serves the needs of the whole individual when practitioners have a broad and deep comprehension of the theories, techniques, and strategies for effective program development and management. The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy provides relevant and current information on the field with the intent to inspire best practices and creative, effective programs.

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgments

Editors

Chapter Authors

Contributors

Section I: Overview of horticultural therapy practice

Chapter 1 Introduction to the profession of horticultural therapy

Christine L. Capra, Rebecca L. Haller, and Karen L. Kennedy

Chapter 2 Horticultural therapy, related people–plant programs, and other therapeutic disciplines

Rebecca L. Haller and Karen L. Kennedy

Chapter 3 The therapist–client relationship

Jay Stone Rice

Chapter 4 Development of the profession: Assets and issues

Rebecca L. Haller and K. René Malone

Section II: Theories supporting horticultural therapy efficacy and practice

Chapter 5 People–plant response: Theoretical support for horticultural therapy

Beverly J. Brown

Chapter 6 Brain, mind, and relationship: Implications for horticultural therapy

Jay Stone Rice

Chapter 7 Theories that inform horticultural therapy practice

Matthew J. Wichrowski

Section III: Practice within program models

Chapter 8 Therapeutic model

Jonathan Irish and Pamela Young

Chapter 9 Vocational model

Gwenn Fried and Rebecca L. Haller

Chapter 10 Horticultural therapy grounded in wellness models: Theory and practice

Jane Saiers

Section IV: Tools for the therapist

Chapter 11 Considerations and adaptations to safely accommodate program participants

Susan Conlon Morgan

Chapter 12 Assessment and documentation strategies for horticultural therapy intervention

Barbara Kreski

Chapter 13 Tools for program management

Emilee Vanderneut

Chapter 14 Research applied to practice

Barbara Kreski

Index

Rebecca L. Haller, MS, HTM is the director and lead instructor of the Horticultural Therapy Institute, and a faculty member of Colorado State University. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Kansas State University, and a Master of Science Degree in Horticultural Therapy from the same university. She develops curriculum for and teaches horticultural therapy courses, writes professional articles and books, and lectures on horticultural therapy and related topics. Her particular professional interests are training and education for excellence in practice, people-plant connections, the design and use of gardens as clinical spaces for horticultural therapy, and those endeavors that support professional development in this emerging field. She has been a registered horticultural therapist since 1978, and a long-time advocate for the use of gardening for therapy and wellbeing.

Karen L. Kennedy, BS, HTR is a private contractor providing horticultural therapy and consulting services, developing educational materials and teaching. She is passionate about horticultural therapy program design and developing meaningful connections with people through the creative use of plants and gardens. As a faculty member of the Horticultural Therapy Institute, Denver, CO, she teaches the programming course, develops curriculum and works on other educational projects. In addition, she nurtures her love of plants through writing, teaching and facilitating webinars as the Education Coordinator for The Herb Society of America. She is a frequent presenter, enjoys writing and discovering new plants and ways to grow and use them. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University and has been a registered horticultural therapist since 1986.

Christine L. Capra, BA is co-editor of the book, Horticultural Therapy Methods: Making Connections in Health Care, Human Service and Comm