ABSTRACT
The holistic concept of wellness as encompassing physical, emotional, mental, and social aspects of being and functioning underpins wellness models of care. Approaches to care guided by wellness models help participants to achieve their potential, address the whole person (including body, mind, and spirit), and capitalize on participants’ strengths. Wellness models also emphasize the importance of relationships with others and with the ecosystem. Horticultural therapy is uniquely suited to support and provide wellness-based programming. Chapter 10 discusses horticultural therapy practice that is grounded in wellness models of care. The definition of wellness as related to horticultural therapy is considered, and wellness-model-based horticultural therapy is compared with approaches based on other models. The theoretical underpinnings and the research-based evidence for the usefulness of wellness-model-based horticultural therapy are discussed. Characteristics of wellness-model-based horticultural therapy are outlined. Example programs are described, along with treatment objectives and their relation to horticultural activities. Finally, challenges and opportunities for wellness-model-based horticultural therapy are examined.
