g r a d uat e m i n o r a n d c e r t i f i c at e : minor
Through Graduate Minor coursework, students of all ages and from all walks of life are inspired to broaden their worldview - one that emerges from creative exploration into health, human nature and self-care. The Graduate Minor features interdisciplinary coursework that prepares you to apply theoretical concepts and models to integrative therapies and healing practices, conduct research, work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals and patients, and use integrative therapies and healing practices.
n at u r e - b a s e d ther apeutics
c e r t i f i c at e
With increasing student and practitioner interest in exploring culture, spirituality and healing options including the use of integrative therapies, the Center offers a post-baccalaureate Certificate in Integrative Therapies & Healing Practices. This interdisciplinary graduate program enables students to acquire advanced knowledge and skills to enhance their professional careers, their own lives, and the lives of their patients. Students can individualize coursework and focus on nature-based therapeutics as an area of interest. Individuals who already have a graduate degree or who are unsure whether or not they want to pursue a graduate degree will be able to enroll in the program and receive an official certificate from the University of Minnesota. Then, should you decide to continue your studies, certificate credits may transfer to a masters or doctoral program. For more information about our Graduate Minor or Certificate, please contact us at 612-624-5166. center for spirituality & healing
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Hospital patients recover faster when they can view nature. Working with plants or animals can improve concentration, encourage relaxation, and improve self-esteem. Digging in rich, black soil just feels good. But why? The emerging field called Nature-Based Therapeutics (NBT), which includes, but isn’t limited to, therapeutic horticulture, restorative environments, facilitated green exercise, care farming, healing gardens, and animal-assisted interactions, focuses on the healing power of nature. The environment plays a critical role in your overall wellbeing, and a growing number of researchers and human service professionals believe that many issues facing people today - issues that include depression, anxiety and stress - are due, in part, to our separation from nature. Through research, courses, workshops, and products, the Center for Spirituality & Healing is working to advance this important and emerging field.
Our NBT courses are divided into three areas therapeutic horticulture, animal-assisted interactions, and therapeutic landscape design. You can apply coursework towards the Center’s post-baccalaureate certificate in integrative therapies and healing practices, or towards another degree. Courses include:
Our partnership with the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum provides a broader range of opportunities, better understanding, and a wider skill base to ensure that students will have access to the most current research and philosophies in the field. This unique partnership recognizes the strengths and expertise to make the best use of resources from both integrative medicine and nature-based science.
research:
horse as teacher: equine assisted therapies
3 credits
journey into nature: wellbeing and leadership
3 credits
animals in healthcare: the healing dimension of human/animal relationships
3 credits
therapeutic landscapes: therapeutic benefits of plants , landscapes , and natural environments
3 credits
Dr. Jean Larson, PhD, HTR, CTRS, is an Assistant Professor at the Center and leads NBT Services at the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Her NBT practice focuses on elders with dementia, patients with Parkinson’s disease, adults with developmental disabilities, intergenerational therapeutic activities with elders and children, patients with eating disorders, students with mental, behavioral and chemical health issues and patients with traumatic brain injury.
“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.” – John Muir
therapeutic horticulture: improving wellbeing through plant environments
3 credits applications in therapeutic horticulture
2 credits nature heals: an introduction into nature- based therapy
3 credits optimal healing environments: merging evidence-
Through her work with the Center as well as the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, faculty lead Dr. Larson, works with local organizations and corporations to provide consultation and services to help them bring nature into their organizations and improve care. future:
As this field expands, the Center will play an important role in convening leading experts and researchers. In 2015, we will host an International Nature-Based Therapeutics Research Roundtable. More NBT opportunities will be featured on the Center’s website. assess your relationship with nature :
Taking Charge of Your Health & Wellbeing, the Center’s popular resource site, provides a free online assessment tool that will help you examine your relationship with the environment. Learn more at z.umn.edu/NatureAssessment
based practice with evidence- based design
3 credits
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visit z.umn.edu/nbt