RESEARCH

Interdisciplinary Professional Development, CEUs and Horticultural Therapy: The Michigan Model

In 2017, the Michigan Horticultural Therapy Association organized an interdisciplinary professional development conference, successfully navigating challenges to provide continuing education units for both horticultural and recreational therapists.

Program Types: Social, Vocational

Population Groups: Industry Professionals

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Increased Horticultural Knowledge, Community Building

Allied Profession Intersections: Recreational Therapy

Type of Activity: Sensory Stimulation, Outdoor Gardening

Evidence Type: Industry Reports

Measurement and Evaluation: Program Effectiveness

Access: Free

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Summary

The Michigan Horticultural Therapy Association (MHTA) organized an innovative interdisciplinary professional development conference in 2017 that brought together horticultural therapists and recreational therapists. Titled “The Versatility of Gardening Used for Both Recreation and Treatment,” this conference aimed to provide continuing education units (CEUs) for both disciplines while exploring shared uses of gardening in therapeutic contexts. The conference development process involved initial planning attempts at collaboration with recreational therapy organizations, and navigating the CEU application process through the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA). Key challenges included balancing the hands-on learning emphasis of horticultural therapy with ATRA’s limitations on activity-based content. Also, developing sessions that met ATRA CEU guidelines while maintaining relevance for both disciplines proved difficult. The conference program evolved from initially having separate tracks for each discipline to offering CEUs for all sessions, eliminating the need for separate tracks. This interdisciplinary model demonstrated the potential for collaboration between horticultural and recreational therapy, highlighting shared practices and expanding professional development opportunities across disciplines.

Link

Fleming, L., Carroll, K., Douglas, J., & Flinton, C. (2017). Interdisciplinary Professional Development, CEUs and Horticultural Therapy. Source: Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 27(2), 57–68

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