If you love to help others and are interested in horticulture, than a career in horticultural therapy may be just the career for you!
Horticultural Therapy uses activities associated with horticulture such as gardening, propagation and plant care as well as visits to natural environments to help improve physical and psychological health in others.
Horticultural therapy has been used in the aged care industry for many years and is proven to have improved recovery time. Even patients who simply had a view of a beautiful garden or scenery had a speedier recovery than those without!
There are many other benefits of horticultural therapy such as improved muscle function, self worth, employment prospects and social skills.
Horticultural therapists can conduct either one on one sessions, or work as part of group therapy sessions. Often, they will work alongside a health care professional to create suitable programs and activities for those involved.
Work exists in hospitals, homes for the elderly, prisons, community centres, special schools and shelters.
Although gardens have been considered to be healing spaces since ancient times, Horticultural Therapy only developed as a discipline more recently.
In the 1940s and 1950s, rehabilitative care of hospitalized war veterans significantly expanded acceptance of the practice. No longer limited to treating mental illness, HT practice gained in credibility and was embraced for a much wider range of diagnoses and therapeutic options. Today, HT is accepted as a beneficial and effective therapeutic modality. It is widely used within a broad range of rehabilitative, vocational, and community settings.
This career can be a great path for those with either a background in horticulture, psychology, counselling or health care. For more information on our horticultural therapy courses, visit our website or call us on 1300650569.
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