Did you know that plants and plant products can be used to improve people’s cognitive, physical, psychological, and social functioning? Well, they can, and Horticulture as Therapy is the book to show you how! If you are already familiar with the healing potential of horticultural therapy, or even practice horticultural therapy, this book will help you enrich your knowledge and skills and revitalize your practice. You will learn how horticultural therapy can be used with different populations in a variety of settings, what resources are available, effective treatment strategies, and the concepts behind horticultural treatment. The first comprehensive text on the practice of horticulture as therapy, this one-of-a-kind book will enable the profession to educate future horticultural therapists with fundamental knowledge and skills as they embark on careers as practitioners, researchers, and educators. You come to understand the relationship between people and plants more deeply as you learn about: vocational, social, and therapeutic programs in horticulture special populations including children, older adults, those who exhibit criminal behavior, and those with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health disorders, or traumatic brain injury use of horticultural therapy in botanical gardening and community settings adaptive gardening techniques applied research documentation and assessment in horticultural practice Horticulture as Therapy establishes, integrates, and communicates a foundation of knowledge for horticultural therapists, other therapists, horticulturists, students, research scientists, gardeners, and others interested in this special and unique kind of therapy. By reading Horticulture as Therapy, you will see how you can make a difference in the health and well-being of so many people, today and tomorrow.

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.

Presenting the latest research on cross-cultural people-plant relationships, this volume conveys the psychological, physiological, and social responses to plants and the significant role these responses play in improved physical and mental health. With chapters written by field experts, it identifies research priorities and methodologies and outlines the steps for developing a research agenda to aid horticulturalists in their work with social scientists to gain a better understanding of people-plant relationships. This resource covers a wide array of topics including home horticulture and Lyme disease, indoor plants and pollution reduction, and plants and therapy.

Horticultural Therapy and the Older Adult Population is the guidebook you’ve been waiting for since the American Horticultural Therapy Association’s (AHTA) 1981 publication. With an updated collection of chapters in the area of horticultural therapy and older adults--ranging from a review of relevant literature to descriptions of existing horticultural therapy programs--this book will stimulate networking and information sharing among horticultural therapists and other professionals working with older adults, spur new ideas, and foster continuing research in the field. The book’s importance is recognized internationally, and it is soon to be published in Japanese. In Horticultural Therapy and the Older Adult Population, you will find chapters on garden designs to enhance the horticultural therapy experience, descriptions of existing horticultural therapy programs for older adults, and new research to evaluate the effectiveness of horticultural therapy with this population. Whether you’re an established horticultural therapist, a nursing home administrator, or a gerontology educator, this book will help you design gardens, set up and evaluate programs, and develop curriculum. Horticultural Therapy and the Older Adult Population also includes the results of a survey sent to all registered members of AHTA who work with the older adult population. The survey responses provide information about the institutions and the population served, programming activities, program staffing, program evaluation, and funding. Another beneficial feature of the book is a resource-packed bibliography. Prepared as a service to horticultural therapists and others working with older adults, it covers the most relevant publications--giving you more places to find inspiration and ideas for improving care to the elderly through horticultural therapy.