Sign Up for E-Mail Notifications | NC State Extension

Skip to main content

County Centers
View All Topics
Become a Student
Give Now

Menu

Therapeutic Horticulture

Meet Our Staff
Events
About
Online Therapeutic Horticulture Courses
Outreach Services
Programs and Gardens
Program Planning chevron_right
Resources For chevron_right
Get Connected chevron_right
- Join the Mailing List
Gardening chevron_right
Quick Links
Feedback
Publications & Factsheets

Search this website

Subscribe for Email Updates

Receive periodic email updates on topics you care about.
Subscribe

Extension Careers

What separates NC State University from other schools? The same thing that connects it to every corner of North Carolina: NC State Extension. Working hand-in-hand with our partners at N.C. A&T and 101 local governments, we conduct groundbreaking research that addresses real-world issues in communities across the state.

» Why Work in Extension?

» View All Openings

Recent Contributors

Amy Bruzzichesi MSW, HTR, N.C. Cooperative Extension

Amy Bruzzichesi MSW, HTRNC State Extension Therapeutic Horticulture Program Manager

About Extension

NC State Extension is the largest outreach program at NC State University. Based in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, we reach millions of North Carolina citizens each year through local centers in the state's 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Learn More About NC State Extension

Social Media Accounts

Facebook
YouTube
Instagram

Let's Stay In Touch

We have several topic based email newsletters that are sent out periodically when we have new information to share. Want to see which lists are available?
Subscribe By Email

About
Therapeutic Horticulture

CC-BY-SA 4.0

Therapeutic Horticulture

Therapeutic Horticulture (TH) Therapeutic horticulture is a therapeutic intervention using plants and plant-related activities, through which participants strive to improve their well-being through active or passive involvement. In a therapeutic horticulture program, goals are not clinical in nature, but the leader has training in the use of horticulture as a medium for human well-being. This type of program may be found in a wide variety of community, healthcare, rehabilitative, and residential settings. TH activities promote therapy and wellness for people with physical, emotional, developmental or mental disabilities through intentionally planned, evidence-based activities or programs (definition adapted from the AHTA Definitions and Positions).

TH also differs from a gardening group because the focus is on the people rather than only the plant tasks. It differs from Horticultural Therapy because anyone with therapeutic horticulture training can facilitate TH, where horticultural therapy requires extensive professional training and registration. Read more about the difference between therapeutic horticulture and horticultural therapy to understand how this practice may benefit the population you work with.

This website is designed to serve TH facilitators and practitioners, participants and their families, volunteers interested in supporting programs, students and interns seeking professional certification, as well as professionals and service providers interested in offering therapeutic horticulture opportunities to the populations they serve.

Learn about the four-course online Therapeutic Horticulture series, designed to take allied professions, volunteers, and students from interest to proficiency.

Use the tabs to find information about the types of gardens, programs and professionals available as well as links to specific examples in North Carolina.

Information on research, accessibility, gardening, and health is available as well as opportunities to get connected via email, social media, and professional organizations.

Follow the home page for news, events, research updates, and more.

Join the community of therapeutic horticulture professionals, volunteers, and students in our online group. Request to join our discussion group.

Stay connected with NC State Extension Therapeutic Horticulture by following us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

Support the Therapeutic Horticulture Program at NC State, including the expansion of this portal. Please note that the site says “Extension Gardener,” but all funds donated from this link are directed to the Therapeutic Horticulture program.

Please direct questions, feedback, or information on broken links to Amy Bruzzichesi, NC State Extension Therapeutic Horticulture Program Manager: afbruzzi@ncsu.edu

NC State University and N.C. A&T State University work in tandem, along with federal, state and local governments, to form a strategic partnership called N.C. Cooperative Extension, which staffs local offices in all 100 counties and with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Read Our Commitment to Nondiscrimination | Read Our Privacy Statement

N.C. Cooperative Extension prohibits discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex (including pregnancy), disability, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, and veteran status.

Information on Accessibility

Where Next?

About Extension
Jobs
Departments & Partners
College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Extension at N.C. A&T
Give Now

LOGIN

N.C. Cooperative Extension has offices in every county

Therapeutic Horticulture

Campus Box 7602
NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695-7602

(919) 515-2811 therapeutic-hort.ces.ncsu.edu

Skip List of Locations

Alamance Alexander Alleghany Anson Ashe Avery Beaufort Bertie Bladen Brunswick Buncombe Burke

Cabarrus Caldwell Camden Carteret Caswell Catawba Chatham Cherokee Chowan Clay Cleveland Columbus Craven

Cumberland Currituck Dare Davidson Davie Duplin Durham EBCI Center Edgecombe Forsyth Franklin Gaston Gates

Graham Granville Greene Guilford Halifax Harnett Haywood Henderson Hertford Hoke Hyde Iredell Jackson

Johnston Jones Lee Lenoir Lincoln Macon Madison Martin McDowell Mecklenburg Mitchell Montgomery Moore

Nash New Hanover Northampton Onslow Orange Pamlico Pasquotank Pender Perquimans Person Pitt Polk Randolph

Richmond Robeson Rockingham Rowan Rutherford Sampson Scotland Stanly Stokes Surry Swain Transylvania Tyrrell

Union Vance Wake Warren Washington Watauga Wayne Wilkes Wilson Yadkin Yancey

More Centers, Systems and Services

Advisory Leadership System
Center for Environmental Farming Systems
Extension in Other States
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research & Extension Center
NC 4-H Centers
Vernon G. James Research & Extension Center
District Map

Extension Topics

4-H Youth Development

Equine Husbandry
Grow For It
North Carolina 4-H
Poultry 4-H & Youth
Youth Livestock Program

Agriculture & Food

Ag BioTech
Aquaculture
Entomology – Insect Biology and Management
Executive Farm Management
Extension Plant Pathology
Farm Law and Tax for Producers and Landowners
Farm Planning Resources
Farm to School
NC Farm School
NC FarmLink
Official Variety Testing
Row Crops and Livestock

Animal Agriculture

Animal Waste Management
Beef
Dairy
Equine Husbandry
Feed Milling
Forages
Pollinators
Poultry Extension
Small Ruminants
Swine
Youth Livestock Program

Forest Resources

Christmas Trees
Extension Forestry

Commercial Horticulture, Nursery & Turf

Blackberry & Raspberry Information
Blueberries
Cucurbits
Cut Flowers
Horticulture
Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center
Nursery Crop Science
Peach Growers Information
Southern Appalachian Apples
Strawberry Growers Information
Therapeutic Horticulture
Turf Pathology
TurfFiles
Vegetable Production
Viticulture

Community

#PassTheMicYouth
Advisory Leadership System
Career Pathways
Community Development
Military Outreach
NC AgVentures
NC Disaster Information Center
Tourism Extension
Vernon James Center

Health & Nutrition

EFNEP - Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
Family & Consumer Sciences Program
Steps to Health

Farm Health & Safety

NC Pesticide Safety Education

Field Crops

Corn
Cotton
Cover Crops
Hemp
Official Variety Testing
Organic Commodities
Peanut
Small Grains
Soybeans
Tobacco Growers Information

Food Safety & Processing

Food Safety
Food Business
Food Safety for Processors
Food Safety Repository
FoodCoVNET
NC Fresh Produce Safety
Seafood Science

Lawn & Garden

Community Gardens
Composting
Extension Gardener
Extension Gardener Travel Study Adventures
Extension Master Gardener℠ Volunteers
Gardening
Horticulture
Pollinators
TurfFiles

Local Foods

Farm Planning Resources
Food Safety
Local Food
NC Farm School
NC Fresh Produce Safety

Home & Family

Family & Consumer Sciences Program
Healthy Homes

Pest Management

Entomology – Insect Biology and Management
Extension Plant Pathology
Integrated Pest Management
NC Pesticide Safety Education
Plant Disease and Insect Clinic
Weed Management in Nurseries, Landscapes & Christmas Trees

Soil, Water & Air

Soil Fertility
Soil Health and Management
Water Resources

Specialty Crops

Growing Small Farms
New Crops & Organics