In the early 2000s, Ralph & Joni Cook, along with son Brandon and his wife Rachel, founded Lantern Lane Farm, inspired by Ralph’s belief in therapy’s healing power. They adopted the name from the previous owners, who had used the property for therapy, symbolizing a safe haven along the underground railroad. Lantern Lane became a non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity in 2008, focusing on healing through therapy. The Cook’s farm and its horses provide a peaceful and safe environment for many.

Elijah’s Place at Lantern Lane Farm was inspired by the Green family’s tragic loss of their infant son in 2010. They found the farm to be a non-judgmental haven for rest and healing amid a misunderstanding public. Through their work with horses and Ralph’s guidance, the Greens learned to Grieve Well, honoring Elijah’s memory as they embraced a new vision of family.

God had a Different Plan…

Designed to “Meet Tomorrow’s Needs Today,” Elijah’s Place was a vision ahead of its time!  A safe place for spiritual, emotional, and physical healing to all in need, it featured an innovative design - with space for horses, meetings, and private therapy rooms to be built on the back side of the Cook’s property. The plan aimed to meet the increasing demand for mental health services, featuring a covered arena for year-round equine therapy. However, God had a different plan for the Cooks and their farm.

Their dream, vibrant and resilient, was destined to take a different form as it unfolded in unexpected ways.

Good reputation drives growth, and over the next five years, the counseling service expanded to thousands of clients, welcoming more licensed and pre-licensed counselors, along with numerous counseling students from local colleges and universities. The internship program at LLF offers professional counseling students a chance to complete their master’s degrees while expanding the organization’s capacity to provide mental health services to those in need, particularly individuals with limited financial resources. Partnerships with churches increased as community leaders acknowledged LLF’s dedication to client care.  With only one room left in the Cook’s home, Counseling Services moved to a nearby cabin. Clients enjoyed the countryside, but the horses were now offsite, requiring trips to the farm for equine sessions. However, Lantern Lane outgrew the cabin by 2018.

In spring 2018, the Cooks moved from their farmhouse to a new home in Lebanon to continue providing affordable counseling services. Renovations at the farmhouse created 12 separate offices, giving a new meaning to the term “house divided.”

Lantern Lane would rent the Cook’s farmhouse to offer various counseling approaches. When weather permitted, therapists and equine specialists utilized the round pen behind the barn for equine-assisted psychotherapy, allowing clients to experience the transformational healing power of working with horses.

So, is this where the journey to Elijah’s Place ends? …with your help, there can be more to the story!

If you’d like to learn more or to help by donating or volunteering, please email info@lanternlanefarm.org, and a representative of the organization will contact you. We invite you to share this story with friends and family. We consider Lantern Lane a safe place for those needing counseling!