Horti-Cultural Space: To Learn, Heal, and Grow

This innovative pedagogical approach, implemented in Cross-Cultural Counseling (ABA3193) course, has integrated gardening activities into the curriculum to foster holistic student wellness. By engaging students in the gardening process, the course aimed to explore the diverse traditional/ indigenous healing approaches and enhance cross-cultural understanding. It aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals; promoting good health and wellbeing (SDG3) and zero hunger and food security (SDG2). The students actively participated in planning, planting, observing, and reflecting on their gardening experiences. Through this experiential and hands-on engagement, they develop knowledge, skills, and appreciation for nature-based traditional healing therapies and their potential application in counseling practice. The gardening activities contributed to the physical, social, spiritual, and mental well-being of students. It promoted a sense of community and environmental stewardship. Beyond individual benefits, the gardening activities also contributed to the broader community - beautifying the faculty grounds, creating a healing space, as well as promising a green and pleasant learning environment. In terms of its novelty, the approach opens the eyes of the digital generation to the importance and benefits of gardening. It offers a new holistic approach of teaching and learning in counseling courses combining science (horticulture), humanities (counseling psychology), and religion. The positive outcomes of this initiative include increased student well-being and achievement of the course learning objectives (CLOs), demonstrating the effectiveness of integrating gardening into counselor education. This innovative approach has the potential to be replicated and adapted in other educational contexts, offering a valuable contribution to the field of counseling, and promoting holistic student development.