Meet a Practitioner

Meet a Practitioner: 

Amy Fee Bruzzichesi 

1. How are you currently involved in HT/TH? 

I am the NC State Therapeutic Horticulture Program Manager. I administer and co-teach the Online Certificate in Therapeutic Horticulture courses in collaboration with NC Botanical Garden, and I provide support, training, and resources for programs all over the state through Cooperative Extension. I also have a private practice helping elders continue to garden at home, through working with them and their families one-on-one to modify the space and meet their changing needs. 

2. What path led you to HT/TH?

I’m the child of a landscape architect and a mental health therapist, so you could say I have hybridized those skills! I have a 30-year background in social work with adults and families, and I have always used plants in my practice to help connect with people. When I discovered that this skill set was also a profession, I earned certificates in horticulture, horticultural therapy, and therapeutic horticulture so that I could formally use these skills in my work. 

3. What excites you most about this work?

That it has the potential to create so much positive change in so many different places– it helps people with their physical, mental, social, and emotional health while also working to address the earth’s need for more care from us. It is also just a lot of fun to see people relax and enjoy the experiences that HT/TH bring!

4.  What's your ideal population to work with, and why?

My own ideal population to work with is elders in care settings, because so often they have become disconnected from caring for plants due to health issues, and I get to help them find ways around that so that they can continue to enjoy something that has been deeply meaningful to them. Working with this population has underscored for me how incredibly important a lifelong connection with nature is, and how we need to ensure that everyone is able to maintain that connection regardless of their situation.

5. Which plants and HT/TH activities do you enjoy most, and why?

My favorite HT/TH plants are aromatic herbs! I have a wonderful  container with six spaces and a handle to carry four-inch pots, and I fill it with basil, sage, mint, lemon balm, and other aromatics so that people can see, smell, touch, taste, and learn about the plants. With my groups of elders, I really enjoy teaching and learning about the plants we are working with– they ask such good questions and bring their own experience to the sessions, so it becomes a cognitive activity as well!

6.  If you had "seed money" to start a project of your choice, how would you use it?

I would use seed money to provide low- or no-cost TH trainings to underserved communities, and then work with the new trainees to help set up sustainable programs to meet the needs they have identified. Economic barriers are one of the most difficult to overcome, so I’d love to be able to remove some of those and get more people growing. 

7.  What is your biggest challenge as a practitioner? 

Getting the word out about what we do! There are still a lot of people who don’t understand HT/TH and how it has a long history, is evidence-based, and is extremely effective for so many different populations to accomplish the goals they struggle to reach. I have had to reassure people that I am not selling an herbal supplement many times before we can get the conversations started!

8.  What do you hope to accomplish on the CHTN board this year?

As the 2024-25 CHTN president, I hope to continue bringing more people into our group to experience the connection that I had when I first joined. One of the best things about CHTN is its inclusiveness, and I want everyone– from people who are starting an interest in HT/TH to the most seasoned practitioners– to be part of our conversation about growing this important and amazing profession!