When people start thinking about horticultural therapy (HT) contracts, the focus often jumps straight to logistics: Where can I work? Who might hire me? What should I charge?

Those are important questions, and ones that this blog can’t really even begin to answer, but in my experience, they land much better after you’ve spent time getting clear on something deeper: what kind of work you actually want to be doing, and how you want that work to fit into your life.

This is where reflection becomes a practical tool.

Start with a few Questions that Matter

In the first session of Growing Your Practice, we slow things down and begin with questions like:

• Where would you love to practice horticultural therapy? Indoors or outdoors? Community spaces, long-term care, schools, hospitals, private homes?
• Do you see yourself working more one-on-one or in group settings? Small, intimate sessions or larger community-based programs?
• What kind of support system do you want in your work? Solo practice, collaborative teams, volunteers, on-site staff?

We also explore questions such as:

• What issue or issues do you want to address through your HT work: stress, isolation, burnout, lack of access to nature?
• Why do these issues matter to you personally or professionally?
• What kind of environment helps you thrive: variety or routine, flexibility or structure?
• How do you want to feel at the end of a workday?

Questions like this can directly shape the kinds of contracts you pursue, the boundaries you set, and the sustainability of your practice.

From Big Vision to Realistic Steps

One of the things I love about teaching Growing Your Practice is holding space for both dreaming big and narrowing in.

Yes, there’s room to imagine expansive, values-aligned futures in this field. And there’s also a need to turn that vision into actionable, attainable steps: the right contacts to approach, the kinds of programs to propose, and the contracts that actually support your energy, finances, and life outside of work.

Working through these questions in community helps participants realize they’re not alone in the uncertainty, and a focused 4 weeks together helps the vision and clarity land softly.

A Free Reflection Resource

To support this process, I’m sharing a free worksheet!

HT Contracts Self Assessment- Defining Your Offering

This resource invites you to sit with many of the questions explored in the course, at your own pace.

My invitation: take it somewhere away from the busyness of life. Sit in the woods, by a window, or with a view of the open sky (and not your phone). Let yourself dream without immediately editing or crossing things out. This field has room for ambitious, thoughtful therapists like you.

Want to Stay in the Loop?

If reflecting in community and then translating that clarity into practical next steps sounds like something you’ve been longing for, you’re welcome to add your name to the interest list for the next Growing Your Practice cohort.

You can find the interest form here!

Wherever you are in your HT journey, I hope these questions help you build work that feels grounded, aligned, and truly yours.