Planting the Seed

You’re curious about therapeutic horticulture—maybe you’ve heard of it, maybe you’re just intrigued—but you’re not quite sure where to start. This page will help you start your journey.

Have you ever felt a sense of peace while tending to a garden or houseplant, or while spending time in nature? You’re not alone. Research shows that spending time with plants and nature can ease stress, lift your mood, and create a deeper connection to yourself and the world around you.

At Root in Nature, we believe in the powerful health benefits that happen when you engage with plants and the natural world, even in small, everyday ways. Whether you’re exploring this path for personal well-being, creative fulfillment, or to bring more calm into your life, this is a perfect place to begin.

Understanding the Pathways: HT vs. TH

Before we dig into ideas and inspiration, it helps to understand the two main terms you might hear: Horticultural Therapy (HT) and Therapeutic Horticulture (TH).

We’ve created a short video to explain the difference in plain language, so you can decide what fits your interests and goals best.

Horticulture Therapy (HT)

HT is a clinical practice facilitated by a registered horticultural therapist. It involves structured, goal-oriented activities designed to achieve specific therapeutic outcomes within an established treatment or rehabilitation plan.

Therapeutic Horticulture (TH)

TH on the other hand, is a more community-based practice that can be facilitated by non-clinical professionals and volunteers that have received specialized training in TH. TH utilizes nature-based activities to support broader goals that address human health and wellbeing in a variety of settings, without the need for clinical oversight. However, many clinical professionals choose to combine their clinical education and specialized TH trainingto achieve high-quality, clinically significant treatment outcomes.

More Research

Therapeutic horticulture is a practice that embraces the healing power of nature to promote physical and emotional wellbeing. It involves using plants, gardens, and cultivating a sense of connection with nature to help people improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Therapeutic horticulture is a practice that embraces the healing power of nature to promote physical and emotional wellbeing. It involves using plants, gardens, and cultivating a sense of connection with nature to help people improve their health, wellbeing and quality of life.

Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction

Importance of knowing and acknowledging the land you are working on and its native plants

Module 2: Horticulture 101

Plant safety & best practices
Compost and soils
Tools overview & safety
Seed starting & its benefits
Sensory plants

Module 3: Introduction to Horticultural Therapy (HT) and Therapeutic Horticulture (TH)

Explaining acronyms
HT versus TH
Brief history of HT
Titles in HT/TH
Elements of HT
Domains of wellness
Examples of HT/TH

Module 4: Practice of HT/TH

Setting goals and objectives
Planning process
Year-round programming in TH
Seeking donations
Intro to adaptations
Safety
Therapeutic landscape design
Reporting and impact measurement

Module 5: Activity Facilitation

Best practices for activity facilitation
Activity, environment and use of self
Building session plans (activity versus session versus program)
Overview of Root in Nature’s GrowTH Network, including the extensive Activity Database

Join the Community

GrowTH – Grow Therapeutic Horticulture is a supportive online international community of horticultural therapists, practitioners, and other professionals delivering plant and nature-rooted sessions.

Benefits for Clients

Benefits for Clients

Practitioners can benefit from using plants and nature in their therapeutic approach in several ways:

Enhancing the environment: Plants and nature create a calming and relaxing environment that can promote wellness and enhance the overall atmosphere of a therapy session.
Reducing stress: Exposure to plants and nature has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels, which is beneficial for individuals who are experiencing mental health conditions or chronic illnesses.
Improving physical health: Spending time in nature and around plants can promote physical activity and exercise. Recreation therapists can incorporate therapeutic horticulture activities into their therapy sessions to promote physical health.
Boosting mood: Being in nature and around plants can boost mood and help individuals feel more positive and optimistic. This can be especially helpful for individuals who are experiencing depression or other mood disorders.
Promoting social connections: Group therapeutic horticulture sessions can provide opportunities for social interaction and connection, as well as promote bonding and create a sense of community.

Benefits for Practitioners

Benefits for Practitioners

Practitioners such as recreation therapists may benefit from taking therapeutic horticulture training for several reasons:

Specialized knowledge: Root in Nature’s training program provides specialized knowledge and skills related to using plants, gardening, and nature as therapeutic tools. This can help recreation therapists better understand the therapeutic benefits of horticulture and how to effectively incorporate it into their therapy sessions.
Professional development: Training in therapeutic horticulture can be a valuable form of professional development for practitioners. It can enhance their skills and knowledge, making them more effective in their role as a therapist.
Expanded therapy options: With therapeutic horticulture training, recreation therapists can expand the range of therapy options they can offer their clients. Incorporating plants and nature into their sessions can provide clients with unique and effective therapeutic experiences.
Improved client outcomes: Horticultural therapy has been shown to be effective in improving a range of outcomes for clients, including mental health, physical health, and overall quality of life. By taking Root in Nature’s training, recreation therapists can learn how to effectively use horticulture to improve their clients' outcomes.