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All content © 2009
by Dr. Garuth Chalfont
Design by Simon Gray
Therapeutic Nature Designs
Approach
To create a sense of place.
To work with mental health practitioners to create spaces that afford both independent and facilitated
engagement by their clients.
To design environments which support relationships - with our self, other people and the natural world.
Three Types of Therapeutic Nature Designs
1. Gardens for Psychotherapy
• Creating spaces within the garden where the client and the psychotherapist can do their work.
• Using plants and the season cycles of nature as metaphors for personal transformation.
• Creating garden spaces conducive to creative arts therapies such as painting and drawing.
2. Nature Environments for Dementia Care
• Creating enabling environments in which the location and uses of spaces are overlapped.
• Creating Edge Spaces that integrate indoors and outdoors.
• Creating landscapes that support participation by residents in routine domestic activities
3. Sites for Social and Therapeutic Horticulture (or Horticultural Therapy)
Activities and Programs
• Integrating structure and landscape for planting, growing and harvesting
• Designing spaces for personal reflection, contemplation and solitude (secret garden)
• Designing spaces for social interaction and community involvement (cafe or garden centre)