1st Edition

Horticulture as Therapy Principles and Practice

By Sharon Simson, Martha Straus Copyright 1998
    504 Pages
    by CRC Press

    504 Pages
    by CRC Press

    Did you know that plants and plant products can be used to improve people’s cognitive, physical, psychological, and social functioning? Well, they can, and Horticulture as Therapy is the book to show you how! If you are already familiar with the healing potential of horticultural therapy, or even practice horticultural therapy, this book will help you enrich your knowledge and skills and revitalize your practice. You will learn how horticultural therapy can be used with different populations in a variety of settings, what resources are available, effective treatment strategies, and the concepts behind horticultural treatment.

    The first comprehensive text on the practice of horticulture as therapy, this one-of-a-kind book will enable the profession to educate future horticultural therapists with fundamental knowledge and skills as they embark on careers as practitioners, researchers, and educators. You come to understand the relationship between people and plants more deeply as you learn about:

    • vocational, social, and therapeutic programs in horticulture
    • special populations including children, older adults, those who exhibit criminal behavior, and those with developmental disabilities, physical disabilities, mental health disorders, or traumatic brain injury
    • use of horticultural therapy in botanical gardening and community settings
    • adaptive gardening techniques
    • applied research
    • documentation and assessment in horticultural practice
    Horticulture as Therapy establishes, integrates, and communicates a foundation of knowledge for horticultural therapists, other therapists, horticulturists, students, research scientists, gardeners, and others interested in this special and unique kind of therapy. By reading Horticulture as Therapy, you will see how you can make a difference in the health and well-being of so many people, today and tomorrow.

    Contents Introduction
    • Part I: The Practice of Horticultural Therapy
    • Development of the Profession of Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • People-Plant Relationship
    • Vocational, Social, and Therapeutic Programs in Horticulture
    • Part II: Specialized Populations for Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Stroke, Spinal Chord, Physical Disabilities, and Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Traumatic Brain Injury and Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Developmental Disabilities and Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Mental Illness and Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Children and Youth and Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Older Persons and Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Substance Abuse and Criminal Behavior and Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Part III: Settings for Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Outside Space and Adaptive Gardening: Design, Techniques, and Tools
    • Inside Space and Adaptive Gardening: Design, Techniques, and Tools
    • Botanical Gardening: Design, Techniques, and Tools
    • Community Gardening: Design, Techniques, and Tools
    • Part IV: Skills for Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Consultation Services for Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Applied Research for Horticultural Therapy Practice
    • Documentation, Program Evaluation, and Assessment
    • Horticultural Therapy Practice in the Future
    • Part V: Appendices
    • Index
    • Reference Notes Included

    Biography

    Sharon Simson, Martha Straus