Concurrent Sessions 13 | October 11, 2025 | 12:45 PM - 1:45 PM (PST)
Horticultural Therapy for Perinatal Mental Health
Description
Perinatal mental health concerns, such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation, significantly affect mothers and families. Traditional treatments often overlook non-pharmacological, cost-effective approaches. This feasibility study explores the potential of horticultural therapy as a nature-based intervention to improve mental well-being in pregnant and perinatal women, reducing depression, anxiety, and isolation. The presentation will discuss the study’s methodology, anticipated outcomes, and the integration of horticultural therapy into perinatal care.
Presenter
Manuela de Szyszlo
Manuela de Szyszlo is an associate researcher with the Pan American Association of Therapeutic and Social Horticulture based in Peru. She is currently contributing to the NATURELAB project, an EU-funded research initiative aimed at raising awareness and promoting the use of green spaces as sources of care. The project explores the integration of nature-based therapies into healthcare systems. Manuela’s research focuses on the impact of HT and other nature-based therapies as complementary approaches to enhancing well-being in perinatal women and vulnerable populations. With a background in Human Development and qualitative research, Manuela is deeply passionate about the potential of nature to improve equitable access to healthcare and well-being.
Building Community: Horticultural Therapy and Youth with Substance Use Disorder
Description
Research has demonstrated that community engagement and well-being are inter-related. Additionally, studies indicate that higher civic engagement among youths leads to improved health outcomes and lowers instances of risky behaviors. Many horticultural therapy activities can be used to demonstrate community relationships. This presentation will give examples of how to use common horticultural therapy activities to discuss communities and how to guide the discussions toward clients understanding the importance of communities in their own health outcomes.
Presenter
Kenneth Harvey, MA, IAH, THP
Kenneth Harvey, MA, IAH, THP, is the Director of HSE and a Horticultural Therapist at Josiah White’s in Wabash, IN since 2018. He was a vocational horticulture instructor in the Indiana Department of Corrections for four years before leading the vocational/therapeutic horticulture program at Josiah White’s, a residential treatment facility for youths. Kenneth earned a BS in Commercial Horticulture from Purdue University and a Certificate in Horticultural Therapy from the University of Florida. Kenneth’s primary focus is using horticultural therapy with youth with substance use disorders.
Sense of Place? How Does This Apply to HT/TH?
Description
Explore what sense of place means and how plants can be key elements. Explanation of sense of place concept will provide context, followed by breakout room sharing of personal connections to plants and places. Applications for HT/TH with THAD activity and goal examples will demonstrate how to use this theme across populations to achieve positive health outcomes.
Presenters
Lesley Fleming, MA, HTR
Lesley Fleming, MA, HTR has been published frequently in the Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture on topics relating to HT/TH and horticulture for health including two papers in 2024 on COVID and Horticulture for Health and co-author of TH Goals with THAD examples. She has led the THAD initiative and continues in this role as well as leading the Florida and Nova Scotia Horticulture for Health Networks, and publishing two quarterly e-pubs Cultivate and Digging In.
Bree Stark
Bree Stark graduated from the University of Florida Certificate in Horticultural Therapy in 2022, and works within the department assisting with teaching, administration, and student advising since fall 2020. Bree's areas of study within the field of horticultural therapy include substance use disorder, general bereavement, unprocessed grief, and ecological grief/climate anxiety. Bree received the Anne Lane Mavromatis Scholarship from AHTA in 2023, the Florida Horticulture for Health Network Professional Service Award in 2023, as well as part of the FLHHN group honor of Alice Burlingame Humanitarian Service award in 2022. Bree is a first-generation college graduate (BS in Agricultural Education and Communication, 2012 through UF) from the rural panhandle of Northwest Florida in Walton County and is finishing requirements needed to register as a Therapeutic Horticulture Practitioner.
Joanna Brown
Joanna Brown holds a certificate in horticultural therapy from the Horticultural Therapy Institute and a BA in humanities, social sciences, and environmental studies from the University of Central Florida. She is the founder of Horticulture For Healing, a nonprofit advocating for therapeutic horticulture in less privileged communities, and the owner of Restorative Horticultural Therapy. Joanna specializes in working with clients experiencing substance use and co-occurring disorders and collaborates with organizations related to this diverse population. Currently, she facilitates therapeutic horticulture sessions for the public at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Miami, FL. Her dedication to fostering mindful connections with nature as a means to promote mental health and wellness has inspired her to pursue a graduate degree in clinical counseling. Joanna lives in Miami and loves to create mini self-published booklets and zines covering topics on substance use recovery, healing, transition, nature, bicycling and more.
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