The American Horticultural Therapy Association distinguishes between Therapeutic Horticulture (TH) and Horticultural Therapy (HT). Both hold a unique ability to support people in discovering the rejuvenating effects of people-plant connections while providing a full mind-body experience that aids in the process of mental health recovery. Both have been scientifically proven to help practitioners heal physically, emotionally, socially, and cognitively.
What’s the difference ?
Horticultural Therapy assists each person in reaching their unique and defined goals based on a previously diagnosed issue while actively participating in plant related activities. Documentation is performed by the horticultural therapist, usually in collaboration with a clinical mental health professional.
Therapeutic Horticulture assists clients seeking to improve overall health and well being where goals and objectives are not defined. The therapeutic horticulture experience is a lightly directed passive encounter for an individual or a group in a plant rich environment.
At times, plant care can be the therapeutic medium for clients to begin engaging in their healing journey.
Repeated, simple and familiar actions such as walking, digging, pruning, and potting up, when carried out mindfully, engage all the senses in the present moment, calm and regulate our nervous system and may help us to process our past and present life situations (The Profession and Practice of Horticultural Therapy, 2019.).