RESEARCH

What’s a Nice Guy like Me Doing in a Place Like This? A Landscape Architect and Recovering Alcoholic’s Thoughts on Design

This article explores the role of therapeutic landscapes in addiction recovery, offering insights from a landscape architect and recovering alcoholic on how well-designed environments can support healing and sobriety.

Program Types: Therapeutic

Population Groups: Addiction/Substance Use Disorders

Setting or Context: Rehabilitation Centers

Health and Wellness Outcomes: Improved Mental Health, Enhanced Emotional Well-being, Increased Sense of Belonging (Reduced Isolation), Improved Stress Management

Allied Profession Intersections: Landscape Design, Counselling

Type of Activity: Sensory Stimulation, Outdoor Gardening

Evidence Type: Case Studies, Anecdotal Evidence/Testimonials

Measurement and Evaluation: Metrics for Mental Health, Patient-Reported Outcomes

Access: Free

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Summary

The author, a recovering alcoholic and landscape architect, reflects on his experience in a chemical dependency treatment center and examines how therapeutic landscapes can aid addiction recovery. He highlights the importance of barrier-free design, ensuring accessibility for individuals dealing with withdrawal-related physical impairments. Additionally, he discusses the need for protected yet open outdoor spaces, offering patients a sense of relief and escape from the highly structured and often confrontational nature of addiction treatment.

The article emphasizes the psychological and emotional benefits of therapeutic gardens, which can provide opportunities for contemplation, recreation, and self-discovery. Thoughtful design elements—such as enclosed courtyards, shaded seating areas, and interactive gardening spaces—can help individuals in recovery find moments of peace, social connection, and accomplishment. Ultimately, the author argues that therapeutic landscapes should not impose rigid structures but instead foster a sense of choice, safety, and personal growth, aligning with the broader goal of addiction treatment: rebuilding a meaningful, self-directed life.

Link

Benson, R. (1996). What’s a Nice Guy like Me Doing in a Place Like This? A Landscape Architect and Recovering Alcoholic’s Thoughts on Designing Therapeutic Landscapes. Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 8, 88–91.

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