Course Testimonials

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Testimonials for the Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture Course

Jade C.

Recreational Therapist

“I thoroughly enjoyed participating in this course. I liked that I could work at my own pace and complete sections without feeling like I was going to forget what I learned. The quizzes at the end of each lesson were helpful. One of my favourite things about this course was being able to go through actual session plans as well as having the additional resources/readings available. I found all of the course material easy to understand and very beneficial. I will be recommending this course to colleagues!”

Alejandra Vera Villamizar

Social Worker and Horticultural Therapy Practitioner

“I think that this training has been the best training in Therapeutic Horticulture that I have done. The course provides you with the necessary foundation to provide your clients with good quality Therapeutic Horticulture sessions. Even if you already have knowledge of horticulture therapy and are a practitioner, the training provides you with relevant information that could enhance your practice. I love the mindful moments because they allow me to take pauses and nurture myself. I found this training fantastic!”

Chelsea Korzenko

Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner

“If you want an easily digestible AND quality understanding of the practice of therapeutic horticulture and horticultural therapy, this is the course! It was well organized, concise, easy to move through, and rich with information. The information is insightful and will help strengthen your skill sets in this field.”

Carmen Viljoen

Social Entrepreneur & Owner, uKwandaGro

“I absolutely loved the Intro to Therapeutic Horticulture course! The format was engaging, the information was incredibly insightful, and the Grow TH network offers outstanding resources. Katie and Alexis were so welcoming and helpful, creating a supportive and enriching experience. What stood out most for me were the mindful moments incorporated into the course—they were truly transformative. Highly recommend this to anyone interested in the field!”

Beverly Drysdale-Coutts

Horticulturist, Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner - CTHF™

“Overall, I absolutely loved the experience! First, I have to mention how beautifully designed the content was. It was not only informative but also incredibly engaging. It felt like every module was thoughtfully crafted to ensure both enjoyment and learning.

What stood out to me the most, however, was how clearly the information was presented. Concepts that could have been complex or overwhelming were broken down in a way that was easy to understand and digest. The structure of the course made it simple to follow and stay engaged, which really made the learning process enjoyable.”

Beverly Drysdale-Coutts

Horticulturist, Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner - CTHF™

(Part 2) “I also really appreciated the extra reading materials and handouts you provided. They were a fantastic addition to the course and helped deepen my understanding of the topics covered. The resources were not only relevant but also really well-curated, offering additional insights and a chance to explore subjects in more depth.

Thank you for creating such a well-rounded and enriching learning experience. I’ve walked away feeling more connected to nature and with a greater understanding of the material. I would absolutely recommend this course to others!”

B.J.

Course Feedback Survey

“In times of advanced technologies which we try to catch up with, climate crises, and all other existing crises on our planet there is a Root in Nature organization that gave me hope, peace of mind and faith when it comes to the future: It’s going to be okay.

Going back to our roots and coming closer to nature it’s a simple thing to make this world better. After all, we all need rain, air, sun and soil to survive. Root in Nature taught me above all to appreciate more the first buds, the sudden and short sight of a blue jay, sound of fallen leaves, silence in a forest, a pebble from the creek, joy of seeing a new leaf of my Paradise Bird and to share it with others. Thank you and happy gardening!”

Course Graduate

Course Feedback Survey

“I absolutely adored this course! Ever since observing a Horticultural Therapist at a long-term care facility years ago, I’ve been eager to learn more about HT.

This course was not only accessible but also engaging, well-organized, and clear. It provides a wealth of both theoretical and practical knowledge, making it easy to integrate the basics into your own practice.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive and clearly outlined introduction to Horticultural Therapy and Therapeutic Horticulture, this is the course for you!”

Susan Joachim

President and Founding Member of the International Nature and Forest Therapy Alliance (INFTA)

“I thoroughly enjoyed the Introduction to Therapeutic Horticulture course. It’s thoughtfully structured, offering a solid foundation of the practice, engaging guest lectures, and just the right balance of information to keep students intrigued and eager to learn more. I highly recommend this course to anyone exploring Therapeutic Horticulture as a first step toward a new career or for continuing professional development. With the growing interest in Therapeutic Horticulture as a modality for social prescribing programs, this course is an excellent choice for those considering work in this impactful field.”

Course Graduate

Certified Peer Supporter

“This is one of the most engaging and informative online courses I have ever done. Even if I was not previously interested in the subject, I would have still very much enjoyed every aspect.

The format and organization of the material flows incredibly well, and the material is clear, concise, and not lost in unnecessary filler.

I highly recommend it.”

Course Graduate

Survey Feedback

“I loved this course! I found it provided me to learn at my own rate, be able to pause for note taking and deeper reflection, and have a clear comprehension of the material. The speakers, course content, and visual prompts were appealing and engaging. Can’t wait for the follow up program and would highly recommend to anyone interested in diving into the HT field at their own pace.”

Course Graduate

Therapeutic Recreation Specialist

“This course has been exceptional and provides a wide array of information related to the practice of HT. It provides a unique opportunity to learn about and engage with the HT modalities. The information is laid out clearly and provides opportunity for reflection and application of what you are learning.”

Course Graduate

Survey Feedback

“Clear, concise, with the ability to complete at your own pace, three of my favourite things in an online course! A great intro to TH/HT guided by experienced and knowledgeable instructors. Thank you for this course, I look forward to more of your offerings!”

Jenny Mcspadden

Gerontologist / Activation therapist

“Well planned course with excellent facilitation, great examples and resources such as videos, articles, documents and library.”

Sarah Burchell

Vocational Instructor for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities, The Ark

“I loved the diversity of people included in the videos of this course. It has been my own experience that very little breaks down barriers between people quite as well as horticulture activities.”

Kristin Topping

Sweetlife Flora Inc.

“This ‘gateway course’ provides the perfect level of information for those folks who work in a therapeutic environment to understand the benefits of including Therapeutic Horticulture into their programming.”

Course Graduate

Survey Feedback

“I loved this course. Well taught and thought out. Informative and kept my attention without feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information.”

“This course is a great introduction to HT and it is well delivered with access to additional resources and reading that can further engage participants as desired.”

“Beautiful course that inspired and encouraged me to dig deeper and expand my horticulture therapy practice.” (CTRS)

Course Graduates

Survey Feedback

“The course was a great first introduction to horticultural therapy/therapeutic horticulture. Easy to follow, engaging and offers a good framework for anyone wishing to enter the field.”

“This course has helped me to develop teaching techniques through students’ individual experiences with horticulture to understand sustainability.”

Course Graduate

Survey Feedback

“Root in Nature opened the door to Horticultural Therapy for me. With no immediate access or network of horticultural therapists in my community, Root in Nature has provided the education and resources to get my started on my therapeutic horticulture journey. ”

“As someone just getting to know the field of TH, I appreciated the structured, systematic approach of this course. It offers a great overview and has given me a clearer idea of what is involved in the practice of TH.” (J.S.)

Course Graduates

Survey Feedback

“I truly loved this course, it has really opened my eyes to how much we can benefit from working with our environment and how our environment will benefit as well. It’s a beautiful relationship that I am excited to be a part of & help others as well!” (Tierney)

Testimonials for the Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture Course - CTHF™

Beverly Coutts, CTHF™

Horticulturist, Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Facilitator - CTHF™

“The Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture course was an incredibly enriching and inspiring experience, one that exceeded all of my expectations. As someone passionate about integrating nature into therapeutic practices, I found this course to be both comprehensive and practical, with the added benefit of an outstanding instructor, Katie McGillvray. (cont’d)”

Beverly Coutts, CTHF™ (cont'd)

Horticulturist, Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Facilitator, CTHF™

“Katie’s approach to teaching was exceptional. She consistently built upon ideas and concepts throughout the course, allowing us to explore both the foundational and advanced aspects of therapeutic horticulture in depth. Her ability to engage and encourage participants was truly remarkable—she created an open, supportive learning environment where ideas were freely shared and enhanced. Katie’s expertise was evident in every session, and she always found ways to challenge us to think more creatively and critically about how horticulture can be used as a therapeutic tool.”

July 2024 Cohort Student

Course Evaluation Form

“The Advancing Skills in Therapeutic Horticulture was an exceptional course filled with valuable information that supported my learning and provided me with greater knowledge of therapeutic horticulture practice, skills, activity planning, session organization and an enhanced sense of confidence in providing therapeutic horticulture activities. This course is well organized and the materials are presented in an engaging way. Katie was also very supportive in answering questions and connecting me to resources throughout the duration of the course!”

Tammy Bryant, CTHF™

Certified Dementia Practitioner, Advanced Activities Professional-Board Certified

“This course has enabled me to offer more than just gardening to my residents. It has taught me how to deliver best practices in therapeutic horticulture. The knowledge that I have gained alongside the credential of CTHF™, will place me in a position to promote the beautifully vibrant field of therapeutic horticulture in dementia care that is practiced in an assisted living and memory care setting.”

Amy Gutzmann, CTHF™

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)

“This course has built my confidence and knowledge base with incorporating horticulture as a modality for health and healing to a diverse population.”

M. D.

June 2024 Cohort Student

“I am excited to be completing my Certified Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner training offered by Root in Nature! Katie is a great instructor and the course is really well organized. I am grateful not only for the guidance of their clear code of ethics, but also that in order to stay certified & to grow into this field successfully, we need to continue the connections and the learning opportunities available within the supportive GrowTH Network.”

Testimonials for the Nature at Work Course

Elena Iacono

Senior Well-being Manager, TELUS

“This course is fantastic – Alexis, Owen, and Emma are such thoughtful speakers, keeping my attention at all times with thought-provoking information that is focused on helping me be healthy while I’m at work. I appreciated the simple course navigation and the definitions made it easier to unpack each section of the course work. The materials are especially helpful for future reference. And what a creative way to tie in sustainability and corporate social responsibility – well done! I now know what I need to do to incorporate nature in my workplace, and my home too.”

Dr. Celeste Borghese, ND

Naturopathic Doctor

“Listening to this course definitely impacted the way I live and practice. I am a naturopathic doctor and I have countless patients who have difficulty concentrating, being productive, and suffer from low energy and/or chronic fatigue. Using the tools that I learned from this course, I am going to be able to provide new methods and tips on how to combat these struggles with a science-backed, nature-based approach. The idea of incorporating natural elements into our everyday lives and workspace seems so simple yet many people don’t understand the true impact it can have. The content was extremely insightful and the instructors presented so many interesting tidbits about nature that I had no idea about. Highly recommend!”

Anjali Dilawri

Accountant, Business Owner

“Excellent, well-paced, informative, engaging and even uplifting! Offered a good balance of background information and practical advice/tips. Made me feel excited about engaging with nature in immediate, impactful ways!”

Shelley Pelkey

Strategic Advisor

“I thoroughly enjoyed this course because it reinforced things I was casually aware of in terms of the benefits of engaging with nature but it addressed the topics more in-depth and in an evidence-based way, providing actionable items I can take back to my office so we can make improvements as a team.”

Annie Burgess

People & Culture, Well-being and Health Services, Specialist, TELUS

“The Root in Nature team shared a truly dynamic approach to Nature at work and incorporating it into your life. The science behind the recommendations were on point, very relevant to today’s climate. I highly recommend the team and their presentations! I’ll be signing up for their programs in the future.”

Paul Willetts

Partner, Employment and Labour Lawyer, Vey Willetts LLP

“The presentation was clear and well-organized. It made me think critically about both my work space and the way in which I work, which was a useful exercise. Also, a good reminder to build simple things like walking and greenery into the workday.”