Green Care: A Conceptual Framework - Frisk i naturen

4.3 Horticulture as therapy
Horticulture, in many different forms, has been used as a therapy or as
an adjunct to therapy in the treatment of disease. It has also been used to
achieve social and psychological benefit for disadvantaged individuals
and communities and to promote health, and physical and psychological
well-being. Horticulture and gardening are still used by many occupational
therapists both to promote the development of motor skills and also to
develop social skills and provide social opportunities, particularly for those
with mental health problems.
Alongside the use of horticulture in occupational therapy, the practices
of ‘horticultural therapy’ and ‘therapeutic horticulture’ (see Sempik et
al, 2003) have developed. These approaches have a recognised format
and structure, pedagogy and in some countries (for example, the US)
a professional organisation. The terms ‘horticultural therapy’ and
‘therapeutic horticulture’ are frequently used in the literature, sometimes
interchangeably, to describe the process of interaction between the
individual and the plants or gardens and (in most cases) facilitated by a
trained practitioner. The UK charity Thrive uses the following definitions
of Horticultural Therapy and Therapeutic Horticulture which were agreed
by UK practitioners at a conference on Professional Development held in
September 1999:
“Horticultural therapy is the use of plants by a trained
professional as a medium through which certain clinically
defined goals may be met.”
“Therapeutic horticulture is the process by which individuals
may develop well-being using plants and horticulture. This is
achieved by active or passive involvement.” (Growth Point,
1999, p. 4)
The distinction is that horticultural therapy has a pre-defined clinical
goal similar to that found in occupational therapy whilst therapeutic
horticulture is directed towards improving the well-being of the individual
in a more generalised way. Recently the term ‘Social and Therapeutic
Horticulture’ (STH) has become widely used (particularly in the UK) since
social interactions, outcomes and opportunities are an important part of
the activities and processes of therapeutic garden projects. Sempik and
40 Green Care: A Conceptual Framework