HORTICULTURAL THERAPY

Horticultural Therapy v. Therapeutic Horticulture​​​

Horticultural Therapy (HT) is a professional practice that uses plants and gardening activities to improve physical and mental health. It is often conducted by trained and certified therapists who work with specific treatment goals in mind. HT programs are designed to address the needs of individuals with a wide range of physical, mental, and emotional conditions. This therapy is typically part of a formalized treatment plan and includes measurable outcomes to track progress.

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Therapeutic Horticulture (TH), on the other hand, is the process of using plants and plant-related activities to promote overall well-being through informal and structured programs. While it can be beneficial to health, it is generally not as formalized as HT and may not require a certified therapist to facilitate. This approach focuses more on general wellness and quality of life improvements rather than specific treatment goals.

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Popular Terms in Horticultural Therapy

• Biophilia: The innate human connection to nature and living systems.

• Sensory Garden: A garden designed to stimulate the senses of sight, smell, touch, taste, and sound.

• Edible Landscaping: The integration of food-producing plants within decorative landscapes.

• Adaptive Gardening: Techniques and tools designed to make gardening accessible to people with disabilities.

• Nature-Based Therapy: A therapeutic approach that uses natural environments to enhance mental health and well-being.

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Offerings in Horticultural Therapy at Know Good & Well

We offer a variety of Horticultural Therapy programs tailored to meet the needs of diverse populations. Our offerings integrate trauma-informed principles, ensuring that our activities are sensitive to the needs of individuals who have experienced trauma.​

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We can help you design the following gardens for your landscape:

• Therapeutic Garden:  A therapeutic garden is geared toward rehabilitation, vocational, or treatment programs.   

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• Healing Garden:  The Healthcare Industry recognizes the restorative value of these green spaces and now incorporates these healing environments as part of what’s called integrative medicine, based on a growing body of research.  Unlike therapeutic gardens, which are more specific in their target clientele, healing gardens have a more general aim for a more diverse population.

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• Enabling Garden:  An enabling garden is a garden for everyone, encompassing intergenerational activities; it sets itself to be high functioning for a multitude of capacities and abilities. This is a hands-on get your hands dirty kind of garden, for people of all ages.  It’s a teaching garden that features water in various forms, such as fountains and cascades to create a fun and sensory experience.