Plants
How plants can helpFor all of us who suffer the burden of stress from everyday living, those who are family caregivers, those who are undergoing the trauma of life change and those whose work demands too much of them, gardening can be a retreat, a haven, a source of comfort and renewal.
For people and patients whose physical or mental condition renders them passive and dependent, having living plants to nurture creates a role reversal. Caring for plants puts the individual in a care-giving role. This can not only bring pleasure; it can build confidence and a sense of purpose. The growth of the plants under one’s care gives the gift of hope and a reason for tomorrow.
Horticultural Therapy and Therapeutic Horticulture
Gardening is now one of many different specific activities in occupational therapy. It is not known how many occupational therapists use it at present as its popularity changes according to the availability of facilities and changing attitudes. However, gardening has become the chief activity of horticultural therapy and therapeutic horticulture. These are disciplines which have developed from rehabilitation and occupational therapy and have been defined as follows:
"Horticultural therapy is the use of plants by a trained professional as a medium through which certain clinically defined goals may be met".
"Therapeutic horticulture is the process by which individuals may develop well-being using plants and horticulture. This is achieved by active or passive involvement" (Growth Point, 1999, p. 4).
The distinction being that horticultural therapy has a pre-defined clinical goal similar to that found in occupational therapy whilst therapeutic horticulture is directed towards improving the well-being of the individual in a more generalised way. The favoured term in the UK is social and therapeutic horticulture because it recognises also the importance of social aspects of the horticulture activities. Both of these approaches have been used with people with a wide range of disabilities and disadvantage, including those with mental health problems, learning difficulties, physical disabilities, victims of torture, ethnic minorities and so on. In fact virtually all groups and individuals are represented.
In general social and therapeutic horticulture is practised through organised projects with a clearly identifiable client group. Some of these projects have been studied and some data on outcomes is available.
But remember this, consider the sheer act of hope that is required to plan and plant a garden. Gardening is a creative art form dealing with many skills both practical and artistic. So many have found that deep pleasure can be provided and enjoyed with the evolving of a plot of land to a place of beauty. The style is not important, it is the personal pleasure that it creates. This sense of inner well-being influences our health and the way we are perceived.
Rethink runs several successful horticulture projects across the country, for more information please contact our Front Door Service.
For more information
www.ahta.org/
"Horticultural therapy is the use of plants by a trained professional as a medium through which certain clinically defined goals may be met".
"Therapeutic horticulture is the process by which individuals may develop well-being using plants and horticulture. This is achieved by active or passive involvement" (Growth Point, 1999, p. 4).
The distinction being that horticultural therapy has a pre-defined clinical goal similar to that found in occupational therapy whilst therapeutic horticulture is directed towards improving the well-being of the individual in a more generalised way. The favoured term in the UK is social and therapeutic horticulture because it recognises also the importance of social aspects of the horticulture activities. Both of these approaches have been used with people with a wide range of disabilities and disadvantage, including those with mental health problems, learning difficulties, physical disabilities, victims of torture, ethnic minorities and so on. In fact virtually all groups and individuals are represented.
In general social and therapeutic horticulture is practised through organised projects with a clearly identifiable client group. Some of these projects have been studied and some data on outcomes is available.
But remember this, consider the sheer act of hope that is required to plan and plant a garden. Gardening is a creative art form dealing with many skills both practical and artistic. So many have found that deep pleasure can be provided and enjoyed with the evolving of a plot of land to a place of beauty. The style is not important, it is the personal pleasure that it creates. This sense of inner well-being influences our health and the way we are perceived.
Rethink runs several successful horticulture projects across the country, for more information please contact our Front Door Service.
For more information
www.ahta.org/
