2024 Conference

The terms ‘horticultural therapy’ and ‘therapeutic horticulture’ are often used interchangeably when in fact there are some clear distinctions that impact planning and practice. This session will explore the differences in these two types of people-plant programming and provide case examples of both. Through those examples we will visit a horticultural therapy program in Chicago and a therapeutic horticulture program in Florida, exploring both similarities and differences.

Leah Diehl’s Bio:

Elizabeth (Leah) Diehl, RLA, HTM is Director of Therapeutic Horticulture at Wilmot Botanical Gardens and Lecturer in the Environmental Horticulture Department at the University of Florida. She is a licensed landscape architect, master gardener, and professionally registered horticultural therapist. She manages and teaches an undergraduate certificate program in horticultural therapy at UF, conducts research, and runs therapeutic horticulture programming for diverse populations, where she coordinates clients, students, and volunteers. Her current research projects are exploring the effects of a structured therapeutic horticulture program on student stress and anxiety and also on individuals with Parkinson’s Disease and their care partners. Leah serves as a consultant and instructor with the National Parks Board and Ngee Ann Polytechnic, both in Singapore. She began her work in horticultural therapy in Chicago in 1993, and has given lectures, workshops, and trainings on horticultural therapy, healing gardens, and related topics throughout the U.S. and abroad.

In this session, we will explore the complete process of creating impactful horticultural therapy programs, starting from initial assessment through to design, facilitation, and evaluation. Attendees will explore how to conduct appropriate assessments to determine participant needs, establish program goals, and guide the design of therapeutic interventions. We will discuss effective facilitation techniques that ensure client engagement, as well as strategies for continuous evaluation to measure outcomes and improve program effectiveness. Whether you are new to program design or seeking to enhance existing practices, this session will provide practical tools and insights for creating therapeutic programs that promote well-being and meaningful change.

This talk is ideal for horticultural therapy professionals looking to develop structured, outcome-driven programs.

Bianca’s Bio

Bianca van der Stoel is a Registered Horticultural Therapist living and practicing on the unceded territory of the Coast Salish and Snuneymuxw peoples in what is now known as Nanaimo, BC. With a focus on clinical horticultural therapy, Bianca works primarily with elderly and complex care populations in Long Term Care, while also facilitating programs for post-secondary students. Most recently, Bianca led a community-driven design process to create a therapeutic garden and gathering space at Kiwanis Village in Nanaimo. When not working with participants in the garden, you can find Bianca swimming or identifying new plants in her neighborhood!

Candice Shoemaker, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, Horticulture and Human Health

Kansas State University

More info to come!

In this guided meditation, Emma Rooney will share what she learned from the chicken of the woods mushroom that appeared floating above her line of vision. Find a chair, and let’s take a journey through what grows out of heartwood.

Emma Rooney Bio:

Emma Rooney is a horticultural therapy practitioner and forest therapy guide working to reconnect older adults with nature at home. www.bloomingcaravan.ca

Mindfulness is not what you are doing, but about how you are doing it. In other words, it’s about the process. During this 20 minute presentation, we will exercise our choice to be present in all the moments of our life, including the most simplest, like noticing a leaf to its core.

Cliff Thorbes Bio

Cliff Thorbes is a Registered Horticultural Therapist, Certified Career Development Practitioner, and Expressive Artist. He is the Horticultural Therapist at Homewood Ravensview, a 75-bed mental health care facility on Vancouver Island. He is also volunteers with the BC Career Development Association. For fun, Cliff likes to swim outdoors, weave, and play in his garden.

Explore the connection between our physical being and our energy and our relationship with our ‘tree anchor’. Attending our conference, we can’t, at this moment, actually go outdoors so you are invited to visualize – (images provided on the screen) to help transport you out in nature and activate your senses. Beginning with a mindful breathing exercise, then moving on to stretching exercises as you take on the shape of a tree (dialog to guide will be provided). Now with warm up exercises, be a thirsty tree and with xylem and phloem structures to transport nutrients and energy. Next a guide to the Qigong ‘Tree Pose’ to stimulate the circulation of vital energy in the body. A strong wind blows – we sway our arms back and forth – slowly at first – then faster as this gust of wind moves our ‘branches’ and we finish with the ‘Shake the Tree’ Qigong pose.

Mary Partridge Bio:

Mary Partridge, HTR, lives in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. She spent many years in the landscape industry, followed by a career in healthcare. Mary has been a member of the CHTA since 2012, volunteers on the Registration committee and is a member of Nova Scotia Horticulture for Health Network and a board member for Arts and Health Antigonish. She works at a nursing home in Antigonish (Nalikitquniejk), NS, where she established a Therapeutic Horticulture program in 2013 and has created both outdoor garden spaces and interior green zones.

Pealing Layers of Wellness

In this engaging horticultural therapy session, participants will peel an onion layer by layer, using each layer as a metaphor for exploring their own emotional and personal growth. As they peel, they will reflect on their experiences, values, and authentic selves through guided questions, fostering mindfulness and self-discovery. This hands-on activity encourages participants to connect with nature while uncovering the layers that shape their identities and therapeutic practices.

Zuzana’s Bio

Zuzana Polackova is a horticultural therapy practitioner and resource facilitator for Anti Human Trafficking at the Medical Ambassadors of Canada Association. Her background includes a Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture and Design, a Trauma Healing Facilitator Certification, a Diploma in Theology and Experience in project coordination and management with charitable organizations.

Polackova has been involved in research and writing on horticultural therapy applications for female survivors of human trafficking. Specifically, she co-authored a paper titled “Horticultural Therapy Health Interventions with Female Survivors of Human Trafficking: Program Models” published in the Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture.

Her work focuses on using plants and gardening as therapeutic interventions to address the complex trauma experienced by vulnerable populations. This approach aims to aid their recovery and healing through engagement with nature and horticultural activities.

More info to come!

Increasing awareness and understanding of how this modality can help military service members and families dealing with PTSD. This user group has unique needs and dynamics, and the correct application of Prospect Refuge Theory is crucial when determining how to structure and effectively employ HT programs for this group.

Peter’s Bio:

Master of Horticulture from the Royal Horticultural Society, member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture, 25+ years of commercial and residential landscape design and installation experience in Europe and the U.S. Military spouse. Key Support Liaison for the 23rd Medical Group at Moody Air Force Base. Owner of Premier Landscape & Design LLC in Valdosta, Georgia.

How can we “grow the good” in our lives and more specifically, in our relationship with food? Mindful eating – and her sister positive psychology practice, savoring – offers many benefits, with practical applications to the field of horticultural therapy. In this thirty-minute experiential session, we’ll bring mindful awareness to your choice of food item (suggested: a piece of fruit, vegetable, or other sweet treat), then pause to connect with opportunities for pleasure. Finally, we’ll highlight tips for deepening such strategies in daily life.

Dawnn Bio:

Dawnn Rabinovich Meiers, Psy.D., is a Licensed Psychologist and the owner of Lavender Belle Farm, a mobile plant nursery specializing in promoting people-plant connections. After spending twenty years as a psychotherapist delivering mindfulness-based eating disorder treatment, Dawnn now cultivates wellness through outreach education and community gardening projects.

Ready to reconnect with nature from the comfort of your home? Join us for “A Nature Retreat – The Active Ingredient of Wellbeing!”

This fun, interactive virtual nature walk is designed for horticultural therapy practitioners eager to explore the magic of sensory activities in nature. Discover the secret ingredients that make these experiences so impactful and learn how to weave them into your practice and enjoy them too!

Get hands-on with activities that boost mindfulness and enhance wellbeing, all while enjoying the great outdoors—virtually! Plus, you’ll walk away with practical tips to inspire those you work with to embrace a nature-connected life.

Melissa’s Bio:

Melissa Scouten is a practitioner of horticultural therapy in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Treaty 1 Territory and the National Homeland of the Red River Métis. With 17 years in the non-profit sector, she utilizes therapeutic horticulture to engage diverse groups, focusing on nature connection, habitat protection, and gardening.

Melissa creates meaningful experiences that spark curiosity and help clients connect with nature. She is especially passionate about leading a therapeutic nature program for individuals living with dementia and their care partners.

When she’s not gardening with her trusty repurposed salad server, she’s navigating the delightful chaos of family life with her two daughters and energetic dog.