Horticultural Therapy

Horticultural therapy is the intentional use of plant-based activities to achieve wellness outcomes. We specifically uses plant-based activities (like gardening) to support individuals to regulate their nervous systems to manage symptoms associated with trauma, depression, and anxiety, and provide participants with long-term skills they can use outside of group for the rest of their lives. Additionally, horticultural therapy allows for the opportunity to engage in skills in an experiential manner, allowing nervous system regulation and emotional regulation skills to be absorbed more deeply. This support participants to be more likely to remember and be able to use skills outside of group. Finally, nature has been found to have numerous benefits for mental health, physical health, cognitive health, and social wellbeing. Time outside in nature is just plain good for us, and these groups support participants to be in a place of soothing beauty weekly.