Therapeutic Gardening Groups with Children and Young People Who Have Experienced Maltreatment

Abstract

ABSTRACT Despite the burgeoning interest in eco-social work, there is a dearth of publications exploring eco-social work practice with children and young people who experience violence, abuse, and neglect. Social workers are committed to service delivery to children and young people and, as such, are ideally placed to create and expand on eco-social work practice. The authors argue that therapeutic gardening groups with children and young people who have experienced abuse and violence deserve a place in the eco-social work field. This article describes an established gardening program that successfully ran for five years. In this article we summarise the group work program, illuminate children's and young people's experiences of the groups, and share insights and reflections from the facilitators of these groups. Finally, the authors impress upon readers the need for researchers and practitioners to contribute to this growing body of social work knowledge. IMPLICATIONS Gardening is a potential place of healing for children and young people who have experienced violence, exploitation abuse, and neglect. Gardening is a site for creative eco-social work practice. Further research is needed to explore the use of gardening as a therapeutic intervention.