1. Horticultural Therapy

2. Definition
The American Horticultural Therapy Association defines horticultural therapy as:
“The engagement of a client in horticultural activities facilitated by a trained therapist to achieve specific and documented treatment goals.”
“…An active process which occurs in the context of an established treatment plan where the process itself is considered the therapeutic activity rather than the end product.”
(American horticultural therapy association definition and positions, 2012)

3. Techniques Wandering gardens Garden-related activities
Well-planned and researched
Exercise and stimulation
Garden-related activities
Emotional/Cognitive
Physical

4. Clientele Commonly used in in-patient care settings. Elderly
Mental illness

5. Elderly: Efficacy Research
Subjects:
Individuals with Alzheimer’s disease in a nursing home
Intervention:
Garden-related activities 2x/week for min. for 12 weeks conducted by a therapeutic recreation specialist.
(D’Andrea, Batavia, & Sasson, 2007).

6. Elderly Efficacy Research (Cont.)
Results:
Higher level of functioning
Stability and improvement in mood, and behavior patterns, psychosocial well-being, and activity pursuit pattern,
Increased participation in daily living.
(D’Andrea, Batavia, & Sasson, 2007).

7. Mental Health: Efficacy Research
Subjects:
Adults with DSM-IV major depression, dysthymia, or depressive phase of bipolar II disorder, and a Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score > 15
Intervention: 2x/week, for 3 hours, for 12 weeks, group activity.
(Gonzalez, Hartig, Patil, Martinsen, Kirkevold, 2011)

8. Mental Health: Efficacy Research (Cont.)
Results:
Modest decline in depression scores
High cohesiveness after first 4 weeks
Improvement in mental health
Depression severity remained significantly lower at 3 month follow up
(Gonzalez, Hartig, Patil, Martinsen, Kirkevold, 2011)

9. Education/Training Licensure and certification not currently required
Variety of colleges offer courses and certification programs for horticultural therapy
Courses/programs can apply to be accredited by the American Horticultural Therapy Association.
(American horticultural therapy association definition and positions, 2012)

10. References
American horticultural therapy association definition and positions. (2012). American Horticultural Therapy Association. Accessed on 22 February from
D'Andrea, S. J., Batavia, M., & Sasson, N. (2007). Effect of Horticultural Therapy on Preventing the Decline of Mental Abilities of Patients with Alzheimer's Type Dementia. Journal Of Therapeutic Horticulture,
Gonzalez, M. T., Hartig, T., Patil, G. G., Martinsen, E. W., & Kirkevold, M. (2011). A prospective study of group cohesiveness in therapeutic horticulture for clinical depression. International Journal Of Mental Health Nursing, 20(2), p. doi: /j x