horticultural therapy

Horticultural Therapy Definition and History

Horticultural therapy is a healing process that has stood the test of time, and its healing effects have long been documented in historical documents. Dr. Benjamin Rush, who signed the Declaration of Independence in the 19th century and is the father of American psychiatry, was the first scholar to prove that working in the garden had a positive effect on mental illness. In the 1940s and 1950s, horticultural therapy was no longer limited to mental illness, but was widely used in the treatment of hospitalized veterans. The effectiveness of its treatment made horticultural therapy gain greater trust in the market, and it gradually became a wider range. One of the widest range of diagnosis and treatment methods. Horticultural therapy is now a beneficial and effective treatment and is widely used in rehabilitation therapy, occupational therapy and isolation group therapy.

Horticultural therapy techniques were used to help participants learn new or regain forgotten skills, which helped improve memory, cognition, task initiation, language skills, and socialization. After the body recovers from an illness, horticultural treatments can help strengthen muscles and improve coordination, balance, and endurance. In a horticultural therapy setting in a professional setting, people learn to work independently, follow work instructions, and solve work problems. A horticultural therapist is a professional who has received specific education, training, and certification to design, execute, and use horticultural activities for healing and rehabilitation.

Healing Garden

Interest in healing gardens has grown dramatically in recent years. These gardens are specifically designed to meet the needs of environmental settings for healthcare, rehabilitation and other therapeutic modalities. In practice, ASLA also maintains close professional relationships with consultants who specialize in the design of therapeutic gardens.

The Healing Garden is a plant-based environment intentionally designed to promote human interaction with the healing elements of the natural environment. These interactive environments can be active or passive depending on the design of the garden and the needs of the users. Healing gardens are also divided into several subcategories, such as therapeutic gardens, inspirational gardens, healing gardens, and restoration gardens.

What factors make a garden therapeutic ? Basic characteristics of a therapeutic garden include wide and slightly layered entrances and paths, raised beds and containers, and a focus on the senses such as color, texture, and fragrance. Guided selection of plant species. Interested friends can learn more by reading the relevant documents of the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) on healing gardens.

Often, landscape architects work with horticultural therapists to create beautiful spaces that cater to the multiple needs of the therapist. Although these well-designed gardens are already ideal horticultural therapy spaces, the successful promotion of horticultural therapy sessions cannot rely on careful garden design alone. Without the assistance of a professional horticultural therapist, the efficacy of the treatment is unlikely to reach its full potential.

Reprinted from the original text