Nature has amazing healing qualities—just ask Jenny Wise, Art Therapist at Hephzibah Home. Nature therapy is a regular part of the treatment we provide for children living at Hephzibah Home, where the state’s most severely abused and neglected children ages 3-11 come to heal. Research shows that when a child engages in nature-based activities like gardening or interacting with creatures and animals it helps those who have suffered from trauma become more resilient and recover sooner.
Research also shows that nature therapy may in fact offer more comfort than some traditional talk therapies and allows children to connect to something other than their trauma. Recently, after a generous donation of begonias from a local troop of Boy Scouts the children at the home prepared to add them to the gardens behind Hephzibah Home.
The garden areas are wonderful spaces where the kids can get their hands directly into the earth and plant flowers and vegetables in the warmer months. They get to experience all that comes with gardening including finding surprise creatures in the ground!
During a recent planting session, one child unearthed Hephzibah Home’s first cicada of the season. She was so excited that she immediately named the cicada Caramel due to its pale coloring after emerging from the ground. This led to an impromptu lesson in entomology by Jenny who always adapts her lessons with the children based on what they find.
Caramel’s temporary caretaker was so excited by her discovery she decided to take Caramel with her on a walk around the neighborhood with the gardening group. She introduced Caramel to the world by pointing out everything she saw to her new friend—the train, a dog being walked and more! When they returned, Caramel was returned to her home in the garden.
We love opportunities like this for the kids at Hephzibah Home, where they not only benefit from donations from our community groups and partners like the Boy Scouts, but they have the chance to participate in innovative trauma therapies. Nature therapy teaches the children that just as in nature, transformation and change in their lives are possible. We are grateful for our community partners and our dedicated staff who always find new ways to help children heal.