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The
Role of plants in an HT relationship
"I
can't imagine life without a garden-a place in which I can interact
closely with nature and have a personal connection with plants,"
Rebecca Haller, HTM, explained when asked what horticultural therapists
need to understand about the role of the plant in an HT relationship.
As the director of the Horticultural Therapy Institute in Denver, Colorado,
Haller explained that in her own life, plants and the garden itself
have been a powerful source for solace, joy, excitement and interest.
"The garden has always been a place where I could effortlessly
reflect while spending time tending my garden," she said. "Yet,
the horticultural therapist must take that one step further in order
to motivate someone she is working with to garden instead of watching
TV, for example. Or to engage a young child who is blind to explore
his senses when that stimulation may be frightening."
That personal nature connection is what the HT employs to encourage
a client to improve his or her life. "The lessons and development
of the plant and garden can be insidious. Positive personal changes
can occur for HT program participants, with or without a conscience
awareness of these effects. In my opinion, you (the therapist) need
to have that personal relationship with the plants. In addition to therapy
skills, you need that plant connection to be successful in horticultural
therapy," she said.
Rebecca Haller has practiced and taught horticultural therapy since
1978. She established a vocational horticultural therapy program in
Glenwood Springs, Colorado for adults with developmental disabilities.
The program is still thriving after 25 years in operation. In addition,
she developed and taught a horticultural therapy certificate program
at the Denver Botanic Gardens and has served as president and board
member of the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA). She
has been the director and lead instructor of the HT Institute since
2002.
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