Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture Course
Course Summary
Elevate your expertise with our certification course in Therapeutic Horticulture. Building upon the foundation laid in our introductory course, this course offers a comprehensive exploration of advanced techniques, specialized applications, and diverse approaches within the field of therapeutic horticulture.
Taught by Katie McGillivray, HTR, alongside guest speakers at the forefront of the field, this course combines self-paced learning with two interactive virtual live sessions. Participants have the flexibility to complete the course over their preferred two-month period.
Leveraging real-world scenarios and utilizing examples from the Root in Nature’s Activity Database, this course is designed to provide participants with tangible experience and practical insights that are directly applicable to their professional goals. Graduates who meet the requirements outlined here will be awarded the title of Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Facilitator – CTHF™.

Course Details
- Prerequisite: Completion of Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture or Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture for Children and Youth.
- Format: Fully virtual and accessible to students worldwide.
- Structure: A hybrid model combining asynchronous, self-paced content with two mandatory live virtual sessions at the start and end of the course.
- Certification Opportunity: Earn the title of Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Facilitator – CTHF™ by meeting the requirements outlined here.
- Assessments: Includes four module quizzes, two assignments, a capstone project, and a final exam.
- Time Commitment: Approximately 24 hours, encompassing all synchronous sessions, self-paced lessons, and assessments.
- Course Details: Lessons are outlined below, with additional information available in the FAQ section.

*This continuing education session content is pre-approved by NCTRC for 22 hours or 2.2 CEUs and by TRO for 22 hours of PCCs.
Course Fee
$729 USD $621 USD for annual GrowTH Network members
What’s Included Membership & Certification:- One-year membership to the GrowTH Network
- Course Certificate
- Digital Badge for CTHF™ Certification
- Pre-approved CE Credits*
- Course Manual
- Comprehensive Sensory Plants List
- Year-Round Programming Ideas
*This continuing education session content is pre-approved by NCTRC for 22 hours or 2.2 CEUs and by TRO for 22 hours of PCCs.

Your Instructor

Katie McGillivray, HTR
Katie (she/her) is a Registered Horticultural Therapist (HTR) and a member of the Canadian and American Horticultural Therapy Associations (CHTA & AHTA). A strong advocate of asset-based community development and reflective practice, Katie has been supporting therapeutic horticulture projects and programs for a wide variety of populations since 2014.
Katie completed her horticultural therapy certificate with Ann Kent and was proud to “build her own degree” in therapeutic horticulture, completing a minor in counselling and majoring in general studies, focusing on courses in horticulture, agriculture, psychology and research. Katie is passionate about increasing access to therapeutic horticulture in communities and facilitates regular in-person and virtual sessions. Her approach is collaborative, client-centred and strengths-based.
Katie is also a major foodie and her work in therapeutic horticulture often intersects with community food security and food justice work. When not in the garden, Katie loves cooking, entertaining and paddle boarding.
Guest Speakers

Dr. Diane Relf
Professor Emeritus Virginia Tech University

Rebecca Reimer
Horticultural Therapy Practitioner

Matthew Johnson
Owner & Operator, Three Rabbit Farms

Dr. Nicolson Siu
Neuropsychologist and Lecturer The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Kristin Topping
Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner & Owner of Sweetlife Flora

Teresia Hazen, MEd, HTR, QMHP
Coordinator of Therapeutic Gardens for Legacy Health

Judi Vinni
Founder & Coordinator, Willow Springs Creative Centre

Wendy Battaglia & Rachel Cochran
Co-Founder and Executive Director & Co-Founder and Director of Development & Program Evaluation

Lynn Leach, HTR
Horticultural Therapist & Landscape Designer, Bird’s Foot Design Studio
Course Outline
Lesson 1: Course Introduction
- Introduction from Alexis and Katie
- Course Tips
- Acronyms and Titles
- Capstone Project
Lesson 2: Therapeutic Horticulture: Past, Present and Future
- History of Horticultural Therapy 102
- Current State of Horticultural Therapy
- Guest Speaker: Dr. Diane Relf on Building on Research
- Virtual Therapeutic Horticulture
Lesson 3: Horticulture 102
- Plant Terms
- Seed Terms
- Soil & Other Terms
- Guest Speaker: Kristin Topping on Advanced Indoor Plant Care
- Plant Safety
- Guest Speaker: Matthew Johnson on Advanced Tool Usage and Safety
- Adaptive Tools
- Best Practices for Watering
Lesson 4: Sensory Plants and Therapeutic Garden Design
- Latin Names
- Sensory Plants
- Guest Speaker: Lynn Leach on Plants that Engage the Senses and Culturally Significant Plants
- Universal Design
- Therapeutic Garden Install Considerations
- Guest Speaker: Wendy Battaglia and Rachel Cochran on The Ability Garden
Lesson 5: Advanced Therapeutic Horticulture Skills and Techniques
- Therapeutic Skills
- Assessments
- Reporting and Evaluation
- Introduction to Reflective Practice
Lesson 6: The Practice of Therapeutic Horticulture
- Setting Up and Cleaning Up a Session
- Therapeutic Horticulture Programs on a Budget
- Key Program Supplies
- Photography in Therapeutic Horticulture
- Risk Assessment
- Volunteer Management
- Mentorships and Internships
Lesson 7: Activity, Session and Program Development
- Activities, Sessions and Programs
- Guest Speaker: Teresia Hazen on Benefits of Participation in Activities
- Domains of Wellness
- Setting Goals and Measuring Outcomes: Population-Specific Examples
- Therapeutic Horticulture as a Year-Round Practice
- Guest Speaker: Dr. Nicolson Siu on Enhancing Wellbeing through Horticultural Therapy for Neurodivergent Children and their Caregivers
Lesson 8: Group Dynamics and Facilitation
- Group Guidelines
- Facilitating Discussion Rounds
- Guest Speaker: Judi Vinni on Grief Gardens
- Stages of a Group
- Asset Based Community Development
Lesson 9: Professional Practice
- Self-Employment Versus Employment
- Wages
- Social Media Best Practices
Lesson 10: Course Conclusion and Certification Process
- Certification Process
- Standards of Practice
- Course Evaluation
- Closing Reflective Exercise
Bonus Guest Speaker for practitioners working with youth:
- Guest Speaker: Rebecca Reimer on Horticultural Therapy in Alternate Learning Programs
We love hearing from you!
Benefits for Course Students
Deepened Expertise
Students will gain an in-depth understanding of advanced therapeutic horticulture techniques, specialized applications, and nuanced approaches in therapeutic horticulture.
Increased Marketability
The CTHF™ certification enhances your marketability to potential clients and employers by showcasing your dedication to your profession and your ability to meet recognized standards of excellence
Professional Recognition
The CTHF™ designation is a mark of excellence and expertise in therapeutic horticulture. It signals to employers, colleagues, and clients that you possess a high level of knowledge and skills, setting you apart as a leader in the field.
Enhanced Credibility
Certification establishes you as a credible, professional and competent practitioner. This increased credibility can help build trust with clients and colleagues, empowering you to initiate and sustain professional relationships.
Professional Network
Certification and the GrowTH Network connect you to a wider network of professionals in the field, facilitating opportunities for collaboration, mentorship, and shared learning.
Professional Development
Maintaining certification requires ongoing education and engagement with the latest best practices and research in therapeutic horticulture. This commitment to ongoing learning empowers you to remain at the forefront of the field.

See you in the GrowTH Network!
GrowTH – Grow Therapeutic Horticulture is a professional resource and support platform for therapeutic horticulture practitioners and allied health professionals with training in the field. Your course fee includes a one-year membership.
FAQs
The course fee includes a one-year membership to the GrowTH Network. Because current annual members have already paid this fee, they are eligible to purchase the course for the course cost minus the annual GrowTH Network fee ($729 – $108 = $621).
Yes, though you will have additional time following the month to complete your Capstone Project. Please choose a two-month period in which you can attend the two virtual synchronous meetings (dates and times are on the registration page) as well as commit time to the asynchronous course in between. If extenuating circumstances arise, we are here to support you and will consider accommodations.
- Two synchronous classes – 6 hours
- Virtual, self-paced course material (videos & quizzes) – 10 hours
- Assignments & capstone project – 8 hours
- Total course time commitment – 24 hours
Yes – prior to the registration deadline date, if extentuating circumstances arise that prevent you from taking the course in the month you chose, we can accommodate you and switch your registration to an alternate month.
Yes! This continuing education session content is pre-approved by NCTRC for 22 hours or 2.2 CEUs. We have applied for CE credit pre-approval with TRO, and have applied for points towards registration with the CHTA (awaiting their response).
This course complements existing qualifications and broadens access to specialized training, promoting excellence in the TH community. It focuses on skills and competence in therapeutic horticulture rather than horticultural therapy. The course clearly differentiates professional titles and encourages students to seek information from their relevant associations.
Successful graduates of the course have the opportunity to become certified as a CTHF™: Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Facilitator if the conditions outlined here are met. These conditions also specify ongoing professional development requirements to maintain the certification.
You will be able to access the course videos for one year after completion, and the course manual can be downloaded for your ongoing reference. You are also able to access the Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture course at any time to refer to throughout this course.
Yes – there are opportunities to connect during the synchronous classes and students can connect anytime in the GrowTH Network directly or through the Advancing Skills student group and forums.
No – all assessments are individual; however there will be opportunities to connect and collaborate with other students throughout and after the course.
Please reach out to us at courses@rootinnature.ca or book a coffee chat with Alexis.
Yes! We’re developing a Peer Reflections course as well as a course to help clients manage and cope with climate emotions. Please sign up for our newsletter to stay informed of future course launches.
CTHF™ is a pending certification mark in Canada and the US.

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