Horticulture therapists use the beauty of nature and the process of planting seeds, nurturing the plants, and reaping the benefits from the final products to help build patients' confidence, improve their self-esteem and attitudes, encourage sociability and communication, improve problem-solving and motor skills, and give them a sense of accomplishment. This is the premise and foundation for horticulture therapy. In 1879, the Pennsylvania Friends Asylum for the Insane built the first greenhouse used for horticulture therapy.

Duties, Activities, and Scope of Practice

Horticulture therapists work with patients in a variety of settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, convalescent care centers, and mental health facilities. They are experts in the benefits of gardening for medical as well as psychological purposes. These therapists teach patients to plant seeds and care for and nurture plants, flowers, and shrubs. This gives the patient an opportunity to become the caregiver, to have a purpose and a renewed sense of ability.

The horticulture therapist assesses patients for their abilities, both physical and cognitive, and designs a program around their needs to improve their well-being and promote health. They tailor the program to the specific needs and abilities of the patient and continue to assess these as they progress toward the set goals.

Horticulture therapists work with individuals as well as groups to teach them new skills and abilities designed to help them realize their owl potential for independence and wellness.

Education and Training

A bachelor's degree in horticulture therapy is the present standard. Five schools in the United States offer this degree, and three of them also offer a master's degree. Kansas State University pioneered this field and now offers several of their courses online.

The curriculum for this degree includes agriculture and horticulture, as well as sociology, psychology, behavioral sciences, and horticulture therapy. Clinical internship is also included in the curriculum.

Some schools offer certificates and elective courses in horticulture therapy, but a bachelor's degree is not currently offered. A strong background in biology and some experience with landscaping or working in nurseries or greenhouses is recommended for students seeking a degree in horticulture therapy.

Licensure/Certification

There are no licensing laws for horticulture therapists. The American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) offers two professional classifications for horticulture therapists. The H.T.R. (horticulture therapist registered) is a designation for therapists who hold a bachelor's degree in horticulture therapy and who have worked in the field for one year (2,000 hours). The H.T.M. (master horticulture therapist) is the designation given to therapists who have a master's degree in horticulture therapy and who have worked full-time in the field for four years (8,000 hours).

Work Settings and Salaries

Horticulture therapists work in a variety of settings, including general, rehabilitative, and psychiatric hospitals. They also work in special-education programs in public schools, juvenile detention facilities, prisons, residential care facilities for various disabilities as well as for seniors, substance abuse centers, and training centers for those with disabilities.

Salaries range from $28,000 to $35,000. A 2004 survey that included both full- and part-time horticultural therapists listed the average salary as $31,000.

Career Potential and Additional Information

Because this group of therapists does not work primarily in hospitals, the field should experience a rapid growth over the next decade. It is still a relatively new field and has proven to be quite effective in helping the elderly and the disabled.

Further information about this profession is available from the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Their Web site is www.ahta.org. Their address is 3570 East 12th Avenue, Suite 206, Denver, CO 80206.