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Organizations representing or providing education in the fields of Horticultural Therapy and Therapeutic Horticulture:
American Horticultural Therapy Association
Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association
Northwest Therapeutic Horticulture
New York Botanical Garden Horticultural Therapy certificate
Portland Community College Horticultural Therapy program
Oregon State University Therapeutic Horticulture program
The PSU Sustainability Education page provides a list of local organizations, including those from local indigenous communities, that focus upon intersectional environmentalism and native relationships with nature.
A summary of the terms (from the AHTA’s Definitions and Positions page):
Horticultural Therapy
Horticultural therapy is the participation in horticultural activities facilitated by a registered horticultural therapist to achieve specific goals within an established treatment, rehabilitation, or vocational plan. Horticultural therapy is an active process which occurs in the context of an established treatment plan where the process itself is considered the therapeutic activity rather than the end product.
Therapeutic Horticulture
Therapeutic horticulture is the participation in horticultural activities facilitated by a registered horticultural therapist or other professionals with training in the use of horticulture as a therapeutic modality to support program goals. Therapeutic horticulture is the process through which participants enhance their well-being through active or passive involvement in plant and plant-related activities.
For purposes of The SAVOR Project (because Dr. McWatters was trained as a clinical psychologist, with some specialized eduction in the use of gardening as a healing modality but she is not a registered horticultural therapist), the AHTA’s definition of a therapeutic horticulture program is applicable:
Therapeutic horticulture programs are found in a wide variety of healthcare, rehabilitative, and residential settings. The components of therapeutic horticulture program are:
Suggested articles and research from the field of HT/TH – coming soon!