Poster Presentations | October 18, 2024 | 5:00 PM - 5:30 PM
Cultivating Active Hope: Building Anxiety Resilience for Climate Change through Collaborative Horticultural Therapy
Description
"Discover resilience techniques to confront crises with less anxiety. Explore horticultural therapy and The Work That Reconnects for empowered coping strategies in facing larger challenges."
Presented By
April Ellis, Clinic Director, Ellie Mental Health Clinic
April is a licensed clinical social worker and a registered horticultural therapist living in the San Francisco Bay Area. She received her certificate in horticultural therapy from the Horticultural Therapy Institute. She joined the AHTA Board of Directors this year. Her background is as a hospital social worker and environmental educator. She was director of social work at the geriatric psychiatric hospital in San Francisco where she designed the HT program and built two therapeutic gardens. She is currently the clinic director at Ellie Mental Health outpatient clinic in Redwood City where she is integrating HT with psychodynamic therapy and EMDR. She enjoys designing therapeutic gardens, swing dancing and playing with her 2 pet ducks.
Effects of Horticultural Therapy on Physical and Mental Health, Well-Being, and Cognitive Function in Parkinson’s Disease Patients
Description
This study investigated the effectiveness of an eco-friendly-designed horticultural therapy program on the physical and mental health, well-being, and cognitive function of patients with Parkinson's disease.
Presented By
Phasakorn Fungfoo, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan (R.O.C))
Phasakorn Fungfoo is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Horticulture at National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan, focusing his research on horticultural therapy. He has experience as a horticultural therapist's assistant. Additionally, he is a lecturer in the Department of Horticulture at Kasetsart University in Thailand, where he teaches landscape design and horticultural therapy. After graduating, he aims to become one of the leading horticultural therapy specialists in Thailand.
Does Participation in HT Wellness Programming Increase Pro-environmental/social Agency in High School Students?
Description
HIgh school students are experiencing increasing amounts of climate change anxiety, believing that those in authority are failing, thereby paralyzing pro-environmental agency. Can HT wellness programs foster positive behavior change?
Presented By
Sarah J. McCracken
I am a dedicated and experienced horticulturist passionate about cultivating sustainable practices and fostering community engagement. I have a solid background in growing, working directly with the public, and a commitment to implementing environmentally friendly methodologies. In 2021, I returned to higher education at Colorado Mountain College to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Sustainability Studies. Concurrent enrollment in the Horticultural Therapy Institute’s horticultural therapy certificate program gave me an in-depth look at the human-plant connection and the direction I needed to pair my passion with my skills. I completed the HT certificate program in October 2023 and earned my Bachelor's in May 2024. Using my education and desire to teach and help others about growing food and sustainable gardening practices has been immensely rewarding. My passion is to educate and inspire diverse audiences on the benefits of sustainable gardening practices and have fun at the same time.
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