Therapeutic Horticulture

as part of the Restorative

Milieu
Dr. Jean M. Larson
University of Minnesota
Center for Spirituality and Healing
Minnesota Landscape Arboreutm

Academic

Clinical

Who am I? What do I do?

Nature Based
Therapeutics

Animal
Assisted
Interaction

Therapeutic
Horticulture

Intro. TH

Intro. To TL

Applications
in TH

Animals in
Healthcare

Center for Spirituality and Healing

www.csh.umn.edu

Off
Site

Parkinsons Center
Melrose Eating
Disorder Institute
Dakota
Communities, Inc.
Courage Center

On
Site
SG

Choice, Inc.
Opportunity
Partners
PEASE Academy

Display garden
Demonstration
garden

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

www.arboretum.umn.edu

Therapeutic Horticulture is when a trained

professional delivers a purposeful plant
and/or plant related activity to bring
about measureable health and well-being
for an individual and/or groups

What is Therapeutic Horticulture?

Treatment

Education

Inclusion

To improve function
Aquire knowledge
Independently seeks
and skills
further knowledge
High Thearapist
Involvement

Therapist and
client together

Therapist supports
client

Therapeutic Horticulture Service

Model

Physical

Emotional

Benefits

Cognitive

Social

How do plants benefit people?

 Enhance

cognitive functioning

(Kaplan & Kaplan,

1989; Cimprich, 1993; Herzog, Black, Fountaine & Knotts, 1997)

Improve

concentration (Wells, 2000; Taylor et al., 2001)

Stimulate memory (Namazi & Haynes, 1994)
Improve goal achievement (Willets & Sperling, 1983)
Improve attentional capacity (Hartig, Mang & Evans,
1991; Ulrich et al., 1991; Ulrich & Parsons 1992; Ulrich, 1999; Taylor et al., 2001)

Cognitive Benefits:

 Improve

quality of life

Increase

self-esteem

Improve

sense of well-being

(Willets & Sperling, 1983; Waliczek et al., 1996)

(Moore, 1989; Blair et al., 1991; Smith & Aldous,

1994; Feenstra et al., 1999; Pothukuchi & Bickes, 2001)
(Relf et al.1992; Ulrich & Parsons,
1992; Galindo & Rodrieguez, 2000; Kaplan, 2001; Jarrott, Kwack & Relf, 2002; Barnicle
& Stoelzle Midden 2003; Hartig, 2003)

Reduce

stress

Improve
et al., 2001)

(Ulrich & Parsons, 1992; Whitehouse et al., 2001; Rodiek, 2002)

mood

Decrease

(Wichrowski, Whiteson, Haas, Mola & Rey, 2005; Whitehouse

anxiety

(Mooney & Milstein, 1994)

Psychological Benefits:

 Alleviate

depression

(Relf, 1978; Mooney & Milstein, 1994; Cooper Marcus &

)
Increase sense of control
Barnes, 1999

(Relf et al., 1992)

Improve sense of personal worth

Increase feelings of calm and relaxation

1992)

Increase sense of stability

& Bickes, 2001)

(Moore, 1989; Relf et al.,

(Blair et al., 1991; Feenstra et al., 1999; Pothukuchi

Improve personal satisfaction

Feenstra et al., 1999; Pothukuchi & Bickes, 2001)

(Smith & Aldous, 1994)

(Blair et al., 1991; Smith & Aldous, 1994;

Increase sense of pride and accomplishment

Matsuo, 1995)

Psychological Benefits
continued..

(Hill & Relf, 1982;

 Improve

immune response

(Hartig, Mang & Evans,

1991; Ulrich et al., 1991; Ulrich & Parsons 1992; Ulrich, 1999)

Decrease
Decrease
Rey, 2005)

Promote

stress (Rodiek, 2002)

heart rate (Wichrowski, Whiteson, Haas, Mola &

physical health

(Ulrich & Parsons, 1992; Kweon,

Sullivan & Wiley, 1998; Cooper Marcus & Barnes, 1999; Armstrong, 2000;
Rodiek, 2002)

Improve

fine and gross motor skills and

eye-hand coordination (Moore, 1989)

Physical Benefits:

 Improve

social integration

Increase

social interaction

(Kweon, Sullivan & Wiley, 1998)

(Langer & Rodin, 1976; Moore,

1989; Perrins-Margalis, Rugletic, Schepis, Stepanski, & Walsh 2000)

Provide

for healthier patterns of social

functioning (Langer & Rodin, 1976; Kuo, Barcaicoa & Sullivan, 1998)

Improved

group cohesiveness

Social Benefits:

(Bunn, 1986)

Struthers Parkinsons Center

Physical

Dakota Communities, Inc.

Social

Choice, Inc.
Psychological

Opportunity Partners, Inc.

Cognitive

Questions?