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Horticultural therapists use gardening to improve emotional well-being, often as part of a self-directed treatment plan. To become a horticultural therapist, one needs post-secondary training, horticultural experience, and interpersonal skills. Horticultural therapy is a recognized and certified profession in Canada and some European countries. Horticultural therapists often start their own practice or work in rehabilitation hospitals, clinics, and long-term care facilities.
There are three things it takes to become a horticultural therapist: post-secondary training, horticultural experience, and interpersonal skills. A horticultural therapist uses gardening as a tool to improve emotional well-being. A horticultural therapist’s work is often part of a self-directed treatment plan for people struggling with mental or emotional issues.
The path to becoming a horticultural therapist is quite varied. Some professional psychologists, recreational therapists, and counselors offer this type of therapy to clients who are having trouble connecting. Gardening can be a very rewarding hobby, allowing people to see a personal goal achieved in a relatively short period of time. There are no regulations surrounding the use of the term horticultural therapist in the United States, although it is a recognized and certified profession in Canada and several European countries.
The first step to becoming a horticultural therapist is to complete a horticulturist certificate. These programs are typically eight months long and combine theoretical class work with a clinical practice term. Courses are trained in horticulture and focus on the needs of the elderly, children with disabilities and people struggling with dementia and other serious mental illnesses.
Horticultural experience is very important in this role. Recommending the appropriate type of plant, providing guidance on plant support, and encouraging discussion about plants are part of the responsibilities of a horticultural therapist. Horticultural training can be through formal education programs offered at community or career colleges, or the result of personal interest and independent study.
The interpersonal skills needed to become a horticultural therapist include empathy, patience, listening comprehension, and conflict resolution. People who report the most satisfaction when they become horticultural therapists enjoy helping others and are naturally compassionate and extroverted. It can take a long time to see clear benefits from this type of therapy, so setting long-term goals is important.
Horticultural therapists often start their own practice, offering their services to rehabilitation hospitals, clinics and long-term care facilities. Professional referrals from recreational therapists, home care nurses, and social workers are other methods of locating clients who need this type of service. A growing number of schools for people with physical or emotional disabilities are using horticulture as one of their treatment options for their clients. Many people who want to become a horticultural therapist have a love of gardening and a strong desire to help others. By investing in training programs in this field, many people have been able to make the transition from other healthcare-related professions to horticultural therapy.
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