For many people seeking mental health support, the traditional image of therapy involves sitting in an office and talking with a clinician. But at Georgia Rose Farm, therapy takes place among flower gardens, wooded trails, farm animals and peaceful outdoor spaces where nature itself becomes part of the healing process.
Founded by Greta Furlong, LMSW, a clinical therapist with eight years of experience in the field, Georgia Rose Farm combines evidence-based mental health care with the restorative benefits of the natural environment. The 10-acre farm provides a setting where clients can explore emotions, build coping skills and work toward personal growth while surrounded by nature.
Furlong said the inspiration for Georgia Rose Farm came from her experience working as a high school social worker and recognizing how much the environment can influence emotional well-being.
“When I worked as a social worker in a high school, I made my office cozy and inviting, knowing that a comfortable, calm environment helped my students feel at ease,” Furlong said. “I realized the importance of the setting, and was motivated to take it further than comfortable chairs and strings of light. I began looking for a space to combine therapeutic practice with a natural, therapeutic setting. When we found Georgia Rose Farm, I knew it was the space I was hoping for.”
Nature as part of the therapeutic process
At Georgia Rose Farm, the outdoors is not simply a backdrop for therapy—it is an active part of the experience. Research has increasingly explored the benefits of spending time in nature, including reduced stress, improved mood and greater emotional regulation.
Furlong explained that nature-based therapy allows clients to experience these benefits while actively working through challenges with a trained therapist.
“In an office setting, we encourage clients to engage with healthy coping strategies, which often include movement and spending time in nature. With nature-based therapy, we can practice those coping strategies during the sessions, and reflect upon how they make the client feel while engaging in the activities together,” Furlong explained
The farm offers clients choices about how they want to engage with the space. Some may prefer walking through the woods or fields, while others may find comfort sitting near the animals or relaxing inside the farmhouse.
A peaceful environment for reflection and growth
The setting at Georgia Rose Farm includes wooded areas, open fields, flower gardens, cozy sitting spaces, dwarf pygmy goats, cats and chickens. For many clients, simply arriving at the property begins the process of creating a sense of calm.
“The interaction with the farm’s environment becomes a part of the therapeutic experience. Our clients choose the setting for their session: Some prefer to walk through the woods and fields, some sit at a picnic table with goats grazing around them, others choose to sit inside the old farmhouse in a rocking chair,” Furlong said.
For first-time visitors, the experience often begins with becoming familiar with the farm. Therapists provide a tour of the property, allowing clients to see the gardens, paths, beehives and animals before beginning deeper therapeutic work.
Furlong said the theme of the farm is growth, reflected in both the natural environment and the personal journeys of clients.
“The theme at Georgia Rose Farm is growth. It’s exemplified throughout our environment with the bees making honey, the flowers planted and growing, the vegetables in the greenhouse, as well as the mindset of the staff and our clients,” she said.
Meeting diverse mental health needs
Georgia Rose Farm serves adults and school-aged children with a variety of mental health and wellness goals. Furlong emphasized that each client brings unique experiences, strengths and challenges to therapy.
The clinicians at the farm use evidence-based therapeutic approaches while focusing on each individual’s personal goals. Accessibility is also an important part of the farm’s mission, with therapists accepting several insurance plans.
“Our clients are unique, all with their own strengths and challenges. We work with adults of all ages as well as school-aged children. Wellness needs vary from person to person. We create goals with clients based upon their self-identified challenges and utilize evidence-based therapeutic practices to support them with making progress toward those goals,” Furlong said.
Building community through wellness programming
Beyond individual therapy sessions, Georgia Rose Farm hopes to become a place where the broader community can gather for programs focused on personal growth, connection and wellness.
The farm previously offered “Sister Circles,” empowerment groups designed for teenage girls that encouraged self-awareness and emotional expression. Furlong said the positive response to those programs has inspired plans for future community offerings.
Georgia Rose Farm’s future vision includes expanding programming and welcoming additional practitioners who share the farm’s commitment to nature-based care.
“We see the farm as a space where practitioners, educators, and community members can bring their own expertise and ideas to create meaningful experiences centered around growth. We want to expand our therapeutic staff, connecting with practitioners committed to our nature-based setting,” Furlong said.
Small moments create meaningful change
For Furlong, some of the most powerful moments at Georgia Rose Farm happen during simple interactions—walking through the woods, caring for animals or sitting quietly outdoors.
She said the farm’s environment helps clients recognize their own strengths and develop greater self-acceptance.
“I can say that I have had incredibly impactful moments with clients while petting a goat, shooting baskets, walking through the woods, picking flowers, or simply sitting and listening to the birds sing,” Furlong said. “My greatest reward is when a client gains an understanding and acceptance of their own uniqueness and value. It is a privilege to walk alongside our clients as they identify their strengths and create meaningful positive change.”
As interest grows in approaches that connect mental health care with nature, Georgia Rose Farm aims to provide more opportunities for people in the Ann Arbor area to experience this unique form of therapy.
Furlong’s vision is to continue expanding access while preserving the peaceful environment that makes the farm special.
“My vision for Georgia Rose Farm is to expand accessibility to our community through growth and programming. The natural environment at the Farm is such a unique space, and clients have expressed that the setting alone contributes to their mental wellness,” Furlong said. “Our goal is for anyone who wants to experience nature-based therapy to have the opportunity to do so at Georgia Rose Farm.”
Georgia Rose Farm is located at 2565 W Ellsworth Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48108 in the south Ann Arbor area
Donna Marie Iadipaolo is a writer, journalist, and State of Michigan certified teacher, since 1990. She has written for national publications like The Village Voice, Ear Magazine of New Music, Insurance & Technology, and TheStreet.
She is now writing locally for many publications, including Current Magazine, Ann Arbor Family, and the Ann Arbor Independent. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she graduated with an honors bachelor’s degree and three teacher certificate majors: mathematics, social sciences, English. She also earned three graduate degrees in Master of Science, Master of Arts, and Education Specialist Degree.
