Concurrent Sessions 12 | October 11, 2025 | 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM(PST)
Efficacy of a Mindful Gardening Program Associated with Mindfulness and Compassion for Improving Self-Regulation and Enhance Wellbeing in Children and Adolescents with Psychiatric Diagnoses: A Study Protocol
Description
Mindfulness goes beyond relaxation; it fosters awareness, kindness, compassion, and positive emotions. Alongside medical treatment, fostering positive emotions and qualities, resilience, and strong relationships in children with mental health conditions is crucial. This session presents a pilot randomized controlled trial (RCT) study protocol based on a mindful gardening program for well-being at a child psychiatric hospital in Spain with eating and disruptive behavior disorders.
Presenter
Eva Creus
Eva Creus has professional training in HT. She is currently interning at University of Florida Wilmot Gardens & UF Therapeutic Horticulture Certificate Program activities. Eva has several degrees (DVM-PhD), and a Master’s degree in Mindfulness (University of Zaragoza, Spain). Eva is a private contractor practitioner who runs STH programs in Spain, mainly for older adults and people living with dementia, through her company Plants for life ( Plantas para la vida). She is also cofounder of the Spanish Association in Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (Asociación Española de Horticultura y Jardinería Social y Terapéutica, AEHJST).
EPN Horticultural Therapy Framework: Implementing NATURELAB Activities
Presenter
Daniela Silva-Rodriguez
Daniela developed a passion for plants at an early age, leading her to study Biology and Environmental Sciences at American University in Washington, D.C. After graduation, she worked for six years at the International Potato Center (CIP) in Peru, where she managed the In-vitro Potato Germplasm Bank and completed a master’s degree in Plant Breeding at the Agrarian University of Peru. In 1992, she founded VERMI SAC, pioneering the production of ready-to-eat salads for Peruvian supermarkets, which she managed until 2013. She also ran her family’s poultry business and has been designing gardens since 1991. In 2010, Daniela began her journey in horticultural therapy, implementing programs for addiction rehabilitation. She later earned certifications from the Horticultural Therapy Institute (USA) and the Canadian Horticultural Therapy Association. In 2015, she founded the Peruvian Institute of Therapeutic and Social Horticulture (IHTSP), creating the world’s first Spanish-language training program in horticultural therapy. Over 50 students from Latin America have graduated from this program. In 2020, she established the Peruvian Association of Therapeutic and Social Horticulture (APHTS) to promote professional standards in the field.
Co-Designing Therapeutic Gardens for Multilayered Community Benefits
Description
Nutrition Garden Rx presents approaches to co-designing and implementing therapeutic garden/program models optimized for 6 levels of health and climate community benefits. Based in 12 aspects of well-being, NGRx highlights therapeutic gardens/programs and opportunities to boost health/ecological benefits. We amplify public awareness via an educational marketing campaign illustrating action steps that people, communities, and ecosystems can take to increase their impact for health and ecological solutions for themselves, locally, nationally, and internationally.
Presenter
Deidre Schuetz
Deidre Schuetz, a self-employed wellness consultant/coach (20+ years), facilitates cross-cultural, sustainable, local-to-global solutions working in integrated healthcare environments. She formed Illuminate HumaNature LLC (optimizing wellbeing with/for people and planet; illuminatehn.com) and Nutrition Garden Rx nonprofit (optimizing urban gardens for health and climate benefits; nutritiongardenrx.org). Her academic credentials include Arts and Administration (MA), International Studies and Spanish (BAs), and certificates in Nonprofit Management (graduate-level), social innovation/entrepreneurship, climate and healthcare, mind-body wellness optimization, Massage Therapy (license), and HTR by 2025. She is trilingual (French, Spanish), lived 6 years abroad (West Africa 5 years), and is an American Community Gardening Association Board Member.
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