Rebecca Haller, HTM

Lead Instructor
Introduction to Horticultural Therapy
Horticultural Therapy Techniques
Horticultural Therapy Programming
Horticultural Methods for Therapy Programs
Horticultural Therapy Management

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 more than 20 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). Rebecca is an enthusiastic speaker on HT topics and has addressed numerous organizations including, AHTA, AOTA, ATRA, NAAP and AABGA as well as speaking at regional meetings, classes and conferences. Rebecca is an affiliate faculty member in the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at Colorado State University.

In 2005, she received the Horticultural Therapy Award from the American
Horticultural Society.

Karen Kennedy, HTR

Horticultural Therapy Programming

Karen Kennedy, HTR has coordinated the horticultural therapy program at The Holden Arboretum since 1986. The program includes training opportunities for professionals and student interns, and provides therapeutic services for people with chronic illness, traumatic brain injuries, mental retardation/developmental disabilities and older adults. She has actively worked with the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA), serving on the board of directors, as a strategic area manager, secretary and on work teams. Karen was the 1994 recipient of the Rhea McCandless Professional Service Award from AHTA. She has given numerous presentations at both regional and national professional conferences. She is the co-author of the chapter on "Older Persons and Horticultural Therapy Practice" in the textbook Horticulture as Therapy:
Principles and Practice.

Jay Stone Rice, Ph.D

Horticultural Therapy Techniques

Jay Stone Rice was awarded his doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the San Francisco School of Psychology. He was the principal investigator for an exploratory study of the effectiveness of San Francisco Sheriff Department's innovative horticultural therapy program. Jay co-edited The Healing Dimensions of People-Plant Relations, which is published by the Center for Design Research, University of California, Davis. He has also written about the social ecology of the inner city family trauma, trauma's relationship to substance abuse and crime, and gardening as a treatment intervention. Jay teaches at the Institute for Imaginal Studies in Petaluma, California and is a clinical supervisor and family therapist in private practice.

Pam Catlin, HTR

Horticultural Therapy Management

Pam Catlin has been working in the field of horticultural therapy since receiving her bachelor's degree from Washington State University in 1976. Pam is a private horticultural therapy contractor and part-time community college instructor in Prescott, Arizona. She is an active member of the American Horticultural Therapy Association. Pam is the author of the chapter "Developmental Disabilities and Horticultural Therapy Practice" in the book Horticulture as Therapy: Principles and Practice. Her public speaking experiences include numerous presentations at AHTA annual conferences, regional workshops and information sessions for local service organizations.

Joanna Rago, MSW, LCSW, HT

Guest Speaker

Joanna Rago is the Director of Loveland Youth Gardeners, a nonprofit organization in Loveland, Colorado. The mission of Loveland Youth Gardeners is to teach young people job skills through education and organic gardening stewardship practices, to offer service to the community and to provide leadership opportunities. Since 1996, Loveland Youth Gardeners has offered a summer program for teenagers identified as at-risk and/or with special needs.

In 2001, Joanna and her students started the "Leaf Out" program which provides a variety of gardening services and programs for the community. They currently two horticultural therapy programs at local health care facilities.

With a background in clinical social work and horticultural therapy, Joanna is thrilled to combine two of her passions: working with young people and gardening!

Susie Hall, CTRS

Guest Speaker

Susie Hall, CTRS holds a B.S. in Leisure Studies, and Therapeutic Recreation, from the University of Illinois. She has been a CTRS at Craig Hospital since March, 1988 and coordinator of horticultural therapy program at Craig Hospital since April, 1994. In addition she is a Colorado Master Gardener, a member of the American Horticultural Therapy Association and a member of Mountain & Plains Chapter of AHTA.