Horticultural Therapy is defined by the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) as “a process in which plants and gardening activities are used to improve the body, mind and spirits of people.”
It’s the engagement of a person in gardening activities, facilitated by a trained therapist, to achieve specific therapeutic treatment goals. AHTA believes that horticultural therapy is an active process which occurs in the context of an established treatment plan.
HTR and HTM are credentials representing voluntary professional registration with the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA), and other universities, colleges and organizations around the world, to recognize studies and professional practice in Horticultural Therapy.
Horticultural therapists involve the client in all phases of gardening - from propagation to educational activities - as a means of bringing about improvement in their life.