Eileen Bona is a Registered Psychologist. She holds a Master of Education from the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta and is the Owner/Founder of Dreamcatcher Association. She has been formally working with people with disabilities, behavioral concerns and mental health issues since 1988. She grew up with her brother who has severe brain injury, epilepsy and cerebral palsy caused by meningitis when he was 8 months old. Eileen has had a lifetime of learning how to help others in need and understands the challenges individuals and families face from a personal perspective. She created Dreamcatcher to fulfill her desire to effectively help others by allowing them to catch their dreams.

 

Eileen has had a private practice in Alberta since 1995. She apprenticed with a psychologist who specialized in working with adults with organic brain dysfunction and severe behaviour and boundaries disturbances for 4 years during which time she established her own private practice. Eileen is a past Vice President of the Brain Injury Association of Alberta; past liaison Vice President of the Sydney Association for Community Living; worked front line in group-home and institutionalized settings; is a past sessional instructor of Introductory Psychology at the King's University College; designed and implemented the first Animal Assisted Therapy course in Western Canada at Lakeland College and has worked with clients, their families, school liaisons, social workers, and treatment staff to design and implement treatment strategies for children, youth and adults in need. She is currently carrying out her therapeutic practice at the Dreamcatcher site, which she shares with her co-counsellors - an assortment of rescued fur and feathered helpers.

Eileen's goal is to provide a fun, therapeutic setting to those who love animals as much as she does. She is helping others heal through the unconditional love of animals and natural healing power of nature itself. She welcomes everyone to come and visit the Dreamcatcher Therapy facility. Please arrange your visit by calling the Dreamcatcher office at 780-922-1047, as Dreamcatcher clientel is confidential.

Dale VandenBerg is a Civil Engineering Technologist who manages the large construction and turnover of hydrogen plants to oil companies, manages pipeline companies and much more. He loves working outdoors and it was his dream that caused the emergence of Dreamcatcher.

 

Dale always wanted to live on a ranch and have horses and other animals to care for. Both Dale and Eileen are born and raised city people but decided to try the country life. As a result of brainstorming ways to survive away from civilization, Eileen dreamed up an animal program and Dale made it happen. He designed all the clearing and fencing plans for the animals, built a large three-way shelter for them to live in, concocted a chicken coop out of an old shed on the property, seeded and cared for the new pastures, built a round pen for gentle horse training, renovated an on-suite for a therapy room, purchased heavy equipment to maintain the site, cut and cleared walking trails, and continues to keep the program going by splitting and stacking wood, maintaining the property regularly, purchasing feed and supplies for the critters and feeding and caring for them. Dale is dedicated to his ranch and to the Dreamcatcher program. His favorite thing is the smiles he sees when he gets the opportunity to take people on a hay ride and his favorite activities are snow plowing and chopping wood - a good thing since Eileen burns so much of it!!

Dale works diligently with his heart fully immersed in his activities at the ranch. He hopes that one day he can participate in Dreamcatcher's daily activities. He has spent some time as a therapeutic roommate to a man with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and found that he has a great desire to help others.

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The Dreamcatcher Team

Dani Dahlseide B.A. Psychology

Coordinator of Operations

Dani Dahlseide is currently working on her Master’s in Counseling Psychology at Yorkville University. She graduated from Concordia University with her 4 year bachelor degree in psychology.  Dani has a passion for animals and for helping people, so naturally Dreamcatcher is the place for her to be! When all is said and done, Dani will work as a child psychologist using animal assisted therapy in her practice. Dani feels blessed to be part of the Dreamcatcher team!

Amanda Lussier B.A. Psychology

Behavior Management Specialist

Amanda Lussier began her work in the helping profession in 1999 when she first started working with children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.   Amanda has continued her work with special needs children for 10 years.  Along with working with children, Amanda has trained animals for many years including such animals as dogs, penguins, and sea lions.  Amanda has also worked with youth at risk, Aboriginal populations, and children and youth with disabilities in various setting including in homes, group home settings, treatment facilities, in the community and in schools.  Amanda has been involved in Animal-Assisted Therapy since 2005 when her first dog was certified as a therapy animal.  Since then she has certified a second of her dogs and has volunteered in facilities including hospitals, group homes, preschools, and schools.  Amanda graduated with her BA in psychology in 2008. She did her practicum at Dreamcatcher from 2007 to 2008 and started working at Dreamcatcher after graduation. 

Jessica Bradley B.A. Addictions Counseling

Intervention Specialist

Jess has just graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Addictions Counseling. She grew up in the Okanagan, and loves all sorts of animals from horses to snakes, fish to hedgehogs. Jess loves hanging out with the kids and teaching them all sorts of things about animals. You can usually catch Jess giving a belly rub to the sheep, being followed by Bob the turkey, or napping with the dogs!Jess completed her practicum at Dreamcatcher and is now a member of the Dreamcatcher board of directors.

 

Ashley Neumann B.A. Psychology

Intervention Specialist

Ashley Neuman Just graduated from her 4 year Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She completed her practicum at Dreamcatcher where she learned the basics of AAT.  She would like to complete a Master’s program in the future she would like to work in treatment. “I want to do AAT because I think it is an amazing form of therapy with wonderful results and it can accomplish so much. Eileen is an inspiration and I love working with her.”

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Board of Directors