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JULY 20, 2012
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A HORTICULTURAL THERAPIST
The Powers of Flowers W
hat was your first thought when you read the headline above? If it was, “Finally. I’ve got a neurotic Bonsai that I’d like to get into therapy ASAP,” you’ve got the wrong article. This one isn’t about people helping plants; it’s about plants helping people. Sound a little crazy? It does. Plants are not sentient creatures like people, cats, and sometimes dogs (just a small joke for our many dog-loving readers). Plants just sit there. You can’t talk to them. Well, you can, but they’re not like teenagers; they won’t talk back. What’s more, they take Newton’s first law of motion (to refresh your memory, here it is: Corpus omne perseverare in statu suo quiescendi vel movendi uniformiter in directum, nisi quatenus a viribus impressis cogitur statum illum mutare) to ridiculous extremes. And yet, just like people, plants have pride in their heritage. Some are content to simply be called violets, while others insist that they be called African Violets. But hyphenated plants are kind of cool. It serves as a reminder that they’re not from around here. You could be looking at a plant that’s native to some exotic location like Africa, Japan, or the jungles of South America, and there it is, right there in your living room or yard. As for Newton’s first law, sometimes it’s nice to have someone (or some thing) that will not move unless acted upon by an outside force, something to look after that is utterly dependent upon you for its care and feeding. And unlike your car keys, you know it will be right where you left it next time you come looking. And as for the whole talking thing, while it’s true that plants don’t talk back — or talk much at all — they are great listeners. They’re completely non-judgmental, so even if they think you’re a clown, you’ll never know it. Flower Power These are just a few of the many reasons that led Michaela Berley to the field of horticultural therapy, or HT for short. Yes, HT is an actual, official, recognized form of therapy with a long and storied history. (See The Skinny) The Medical Examiner caught up with Michaela during a recent flower arranging session at Cumberland Hills in Aiken, the assisted living branch of the Cumberland Village retirement community. Nine residents walked in empty-handed and walked out less than an hour later with a beautiful arranegment of fresh flowers they created, bound for a proud spot in their own quarters. If that sounds like something you could do, you’re right. You could. But not necessarily tomorrow or next week, or even next year. There is a reason that HT is taught on the university level, and that
Perle Hickman, a resident of Cumberland Hills in Aiken, builds a bouquet as part of a horticultural therapy program. [Photo by Mallory Berley] the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) certifies its members via a fairly rigorous process. “You have to know what plants are common skin irritants and stay way from those,” she says. Another factor: “bringing some older adults with dementia to a table setting for a flower arranging session could be a meal trigger.” An unseen nibble here and there — you can’t watch everybody every second, after all — and the plant therapist who has brought oleander or Carolina Jasmine or any of numerous
THE SKINNY ON THERAPEUTIC GARDENING • In the 19th century, Dr. Benjamin Rush, a Declaration of Independence signer considered to be the “Father of American Psychiatry,” reported that garden settings held curative effects for people with mental illness. • Rehabilitative care of hospitalized war veterans in the 1940s and 1950s greatly expanded the practice of Horticultural Therapy. Today, HT is recognized as a practical and viable treatment with wide-ranging benefits for people in therapeutic, vocational, and wellness programs. • People with physical or mental disabilities benefit from gardening experiences as part of HT programs, and they learn skills, adaptations, and gardening methods that allow for continued participation at home. • As a cognitive therapy, HT helps clients learn new skills and regain those lost. Improved memory, initiation of tasks and attention to detail are recognized HT benefits. Social growth occurs: people caring for plants learn responsibility and experience hopeful and nurturing feelings. HT used in physical rehabilitation retrains muscles and improves coordination, balance and strength. In vocational HT settings, people learn to work independently, solve problems and follow directions. + — ahta.org
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