The Application of Garden Therapy In Social Work Practice With Individuals with Substance Use Disorders In South Africa

Substance use disorders (SUDs) remain a significant challenge in South Africa, with high relapse rates despite the availability of various treatment approaches. Garden therapy, although underutilized in social work, has shown potential as a therapeutic intervention that promotes personal growth, resilience, and holistic rehabilitation. This review explores the potential application of garden therapy in social work practice with male substance users in South Africa. An integrative literature review was conducted to assess and synthesize existing research on garden therapy and its relevance to substance use recovery. A structured search was undertaken using multidisciplinary databases, including Google Scholar, Taylor & Francis, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and ResearchGate. The PRISMA flow diagram was adapted to illustrate the screening and selection process. Twenty-eight peer-reviewed articles published between 2012 and 2024 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed through narrative synthesis. The review identified several benefits of garden therapy, including stress reduction, improved emotional regulation, and the development of life skills such as teamwork, responsibility, and problem-solving. Evidence suggests that garden therapy can complement established interventions such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, mindfulness, and family therapy. Challenges to its wider adoption include limited awareness, insufficient empirical evidence, accessibility issues, cultural resistance, and the absence of therapeutic gardens in South Africa. Garden therapy represents a promising, multidimensional intervention that can enhance social work practice with individuals experiencing SUDs. Integrating garden therapy into treatment and aftercare programs may improve recovery outcomes, foster family preservation, and strengthen community reintegration. Greater research, policy support, and training for social workers are essential to realize their full potential in addressing substance misuse in South Africa.