Horticultural therapy is a process utilizing plants and horticultural activities to improve the social, educational, psychological and physical adjustment of persons thus improving their body, mind and spirits. Groups for whom horticultural therapy has proven to be beneficial include people who are physically disabled, mentally ill, developmentally disabled, elderly, substance abusers, public offenders and socially disadvantaged.
Horticultural therapists are experts on the medical and psychological benefits of gardening.
This flows toward the goal of integrating an individual into the everyday community life stream. Horticultural therapy places the patient in the caregiving role, and this often engenders confidence and a renewed sense of purpose. Because the education required to become a horticultural therapist stresses not only horticulture and agriculture, but also psychology and the social and behavioral sciences, the therapist is able to help analyze the patient's problems, assess his or her limitations and cognitive abilities, tailor activities to fit the disabilities and goals set, and gauge progress.