Gardening As A Therapeutic Intervention In Mental Health
journal article
Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture
Published By: American Horticultural Therapy Association
https://www. jstor .org/stable/24865266
The gardening project was initiated to offer a unique way for clients to receive mental health treatment. The professionals involved shared an appreciation for the ways that gardening connected the participants to a simpler time. Before the age of psychopharmacology and the widespread use of psychotherapy, clinicians turned to the land and to nature as a way of bringing peace and serenity to those that suffer. Historical records support its effectiveness. The use of horticulture as an agent of peace and therapeutic recovery dates as far back as 2000 BC in Mesopotamia (Sempik & Aldridge, 2006). Although according to Foucault (2009), the origin of horticulture therapy for individuals suffering from mental illness, is rooted in the accounts of Benjamin Rush, who was also credited as the father of psychiatry. Rush observed and documented improvements to individuals living in psychiatric asylums that worked in gardens, and grew their own food in the early 1800s. It was believed that patients of these early psychiatric centers benefited from horticulture because it stimulated their senses and distracted them from symptoms (Bishop, 2009). Patients also developed self-esteem, a sense of belonging and a structured routine (Foucault, 2009). Rush utilized garden activities such as vigorous digging to treat agitation and mania which are symptoms of Bipolar Disorder (Parr, 2008). The effectiveness of horticulture therapy later influenced community mental health with the advent of almshouses and institutions that were located in the rural countryside throughout the United States. These hospitals had patients working in gardens and with livestock as a central tenet of their treatment (Sempik & Aldridge, 2006). This project brought an historical perspective because it took place on the property of the County Almshouse where individuals with mental illness lived, farmed and raised livestock for many years in the early 1900s. In a similar fashion, this project aimed to increase physical activity, improve social skills through interactions with their peers, and develop a communal cooperation with other participants. The site was serene with lush wooded areas and large open spaces that were once used for farming.
The Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture (JTH) is the peer-reviewed academic journal of the AHTA. Published regularly since 1986, it is internationally regarded as the premiere publication in the field of horticultural therapy. The JTH publishes manuscripts twice per year on the many facets of the profession including research, case studies, program and service descriptions, therapeutic garden design, and other issues in the profession.
The American Horticultural Therapy Association is the only US organization committed to promoting and developing the practice of horticultural therapy as a unique and dynamic human service modality. A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, AHTA advocates on behalf of the professional interests of horticultural therapy practitioners and strives to increase beneficial outcomes for participants, host facilities, researchers, and educators.
Gardening As A Therapeutic Intervention In Mental Health
Source: https://www.jstor.org/stable/24865266
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