The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy

The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy is a comprehensive guide to the theories that horticultural therapists use as a foundation for their practice and provides wide-ranging illustrative models of programming. This book aims to enhance understanding and provide insight into the profession for both new and experienced practitioners. It is directed to students in the field, along with health care and human service professionals, to successfully develop and manage horticultural therapy programming.

The book is organized into four sections: an overview of the horticultural therapy profession, theories supporting horticultural therapy use, models for programs, and tools for the therapist.

Areas of focus include:

• Overview of the profession, including the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to practice
• Discussion of related people-plant endeavors and theories supporting horticultural therapy
• Issues within the profession of horticultural therapy, including employment models, professionalism and ethics, and credentials
• Characteristics and implementation of therapeutic, vocational, and wellness program models
• Accommodations and adaptive techniques to best serve the needs of all participants
• Strategies for assessment and documentation for horticultural therapy intervention
• Issues for managing programs including how horticultural therapy programs collaborate with other disciplines, determining program costs and budget, managing staff and growing spaces, and conducting program evaluations

Horticultural therapy serves the needs of the whole individual when practitioners have a broad and deep comprehension of the theories, techniques, and strategies for effective program development and management. The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy provides relevant and current information on the field with the intent to inspire best practices and creative, effective programs.

Rebecca L. Haller, MS, HTM is the director and lead instructor of the Horticultural Therapy Institute, and a faculty member of Colorado State University. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and Sociology from Kansas State University, and a Master of Science Degree in Horticultural Therapy from the same university. She develops curriculum for and teaches horticultural therapy courses, writes professional articles and books, and lectures on horticultural therapy and related topics. Her particular professional interests are training and education for excellence in practice, people-plant connections, the design and use of gardens as clinical spaces for horticultural therapy, and those endeavors that support professional development in this emerging field. She has been a registered horticultural therapist since 1978, and a long-time advocate for the use of gardening for therapy and wellbeing.

Karen L. Kennedy, BS, HTR is a private contractor providing horticultural therapy and consulting services, developing educational materials and teaching. She is passionate about horticultural therapy program design and developing meaningful connections with people through the creative use of plants and gardens. As a faculty member of the Horticultural Therapy Institute, Denver, CO, she teaches the programming course, develops curriculum and works on other educational projects. In addition, she nurtures her love of plants through writing, teaching and facilitating webinars as the Education Coordinator for The Herb Society of America. She is a frequent presenter, enjoys writing and discovering new plants and ways to grow and use them. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State University and has been a registered horticultural therapist since 1986.

Christine L. Capra, BA is co-editor of the book, Horticultural Therapy Methods: Making Connections in Health Care, Human Service and Community Programs" Taylor & Francis, 2006 and editor of the online HTI newsletter, "Making Connections." She has won numerous writing awards and has been published in: OT Weekly, Mountain Plain and Garden, Green Thumb News, People-Plant Connection, AHTA News, GrowthPoint, The Community Gardener, Health and Gardens, Colorado Gardner, Denver Catholic Register and Our Sunday Visitor. She is the program manager and co-founded the Horticultural Therapy Institute in 2002. Previously she helped manage the horticultural therapy educational program at the Denver Botanic Gardens.