Working With the Alberta Community & Beyond
Our highly skilled and qualified staff also experience the wonders that await them at Dreamcatcher Ranch making it a healthy and rewarding place to work. Our students, volunteers and interns alike are blessed too. Together; we learn and experience the benefits of being teachable students ourselves making us fit and ready to 'be' and to 'serve' others in partnership with our furry co-counselors.
Eileen Bona M.Ed., Registered Psychologist, Director and Founder of Dreamcatcher
Eileen is a Registered Psychologist and the Director and Founder of Dreamcatcher. Eileen's brother, John, sustained a severe brain injury as a result of Meningitis at eight months old. John was a great influence. As a result, Eileen immersed herself in advocating for her brother. Her life-changing experiences prompted Eileen to begin helping others who were also falling through the cracks.
Over the course of the last 20 years she has never looked back. Eileen's specialization in helping children and youth with a variety of life issues and multiple mental health diagnoses, and more specifically brain related conditions, has not only evolved, but paid great dividends in terms of the progress of the individuals and families she has and is working with. Another important outcome is the wonderful transformation of the many critters Eileen has taken under her wing. From navigating social services and health-care systems to advocacy her determination is paying off, for those served along with her devoted and capable colleagues.
Eileen is a past Sessional Instructor of Introductory Psychology at King’s University. She is the designer of Western Canada’s first college-accredited course in Animal Assisted Therapy and has instructed students enrolled in this course for its first two years in existence. She is currently the Chair for the National Task Force on developing Standards and Certification for Animal Assisted Therapy in Canada and has designed the first Master’s level Canadian certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy.
Eileen presents the concept and techniques of Animal Assisted Therapy nationally at conferences and agency-level presentations. She provides intensive training in Animal Assisted Therapy in both Workshop and Internship formats at Dreamcatcher, as well as travels nationally to help other organizations develop and implement their Animal Assisted programs.
Eileen is a Registered Psychologist and the Director and Founder of Dreamcatcher. Eileen's brother, John, sustained a severe brain injury as a result of Meningitis at eight months old. John was a great influence. As a result, Eileen immersed herself in advocating for her brother. Her life-changing experiences prompted Eileen to begin helping others who were also falling through the cracks.
Over the course of the last 20 years she has never looked back. Eileen's specialization in helping children and youth with a variety of life issues and multiple mental health diagnoses, and more specifically brain related conditions, has not only evolved, but paid great dividends in terms of the progress of the individuals and families she has and is working with. Another important outcome is the wonderful transformation of the many critters Eileen has taken under her wing. From navigating social services and health-care systems to advocacy her determination is paying off, for those served along with her devoted and capable colleagues.
Eileen is a past Sessional Instructor of Introductory Psychology at King’s University. She is the designer of Western Canada’s first college-accredited course in Animal Assisted Therapy and has instructed students enrolled in this course for its first two years in existence. She is currently the Chair for the National Task Force on developing Standards and Certification for Animal Assisted Therapy in Canada and has designed the first Master’s level Canadian certificate in Animal Assisted Therapy.
Eileen presents the concept and techniques of Animal Assisted Therapy nationally at conferences and agency-level presentations. She provides intensive training in Animal Assisted Therapy in both Workshop and Internship formats at Dreamcatcher, as well as travels nationally to help other organizations develop and implement their Animal Assisted programs.
Reesa Lerner MSW, Registered Clinical Social Worker
Reesa is a registered Clinical Social Worker. Inspired by a beagle named Bailey, she has been researching and training in the Nature and Animal Assisted Therapy field since 2006. Reesa has been involved with Dreamcatcher since 2010.
Reesa completed her Masters of Social work, with a clinical focus, at Yeshiva University (NY), her Bachelor of Social Work from York University, and Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Alberta. She specializes in working with teens and adults with complex needs including trauma, addictions, psychosis and especially those who have been marginalized. Her therapeutic approaches include cognitive-behavioural, strengths based, trauma-focused, nature and animal assisted. You will often find her in the chicken coop, goat pen or snuggling with a cat.
Reesa is compassionate and committed to meeting people “where they are”. She finds the best in people and supports them to achieve it through providing them with a genuine healthy mirror. With her quick wit and down to earth personality she is a perfect fit for older teens and young adults.
Reesa is a registered Clinical Social Worker. Inspired by a beagle named Bailey, she has been researching and training in the Nature and Animal Assisted Therapy field since 2006. Reesa has been involved with Dreamcatcher since 2010.
Reesa completed her Masters of Social work, with a clinical focus, at Yeshiva University (NY), her Bachelor of Social Work from York University, and Bachelors in Psychology from the University of Alberta. She specializes in working with teens and adults with complex needs including trauma, addictions, psychosis and especially those who have been marginalized. Her therapeutic approaches include cognitive-behavioural, strengths based, trauma-focused, nature and animal assisted. You will often find her in the chicken coop, goat pen or snuggling with a cat.
Reesa is compassionate and committed to meeting people “where they are”. She finds the best in people and supports them to achieve it through providing them with a genuine healthy mirror. With her quick wit and down to earth personality she is a perfect fit for older teens and young adults.
Melonie Labrecque M.A., Provisional Psychologist
Mel holds a Master of Counselling Degree and is currently a Registered Provisional Psychologist in Alberta. She has been involved in the area of psychology for over 10 years in a variety of settings with a variety of ages and mental health issues.
During her 2004 and 2005 summers, she was an internship student for the Pathways Regional Mental Health Day Program and Vocational Services working with adults with a variety of mental illnesses. From 2008-2011 she worked as a casual volunteer child mentor with a boy diagnosed as high functioning on the autism spectrum (Pervasive Development Disorder). In 2008- 2009 she was a practicum student with the YWCA facilitating groups for helping children deal with bereavement and divorce and facilitating weekly groups for girls as a part of a pilot girl power program. In 2009-2010 she was a practicum student with the Stollery Children’s Hospital Pediatric Centre for Weight and Health (PCWH) Weight Wise Program co-leading group programs for teens and for the parents of the children/youth referred to the program. From 2009-2012 and 2016-present she has been employed by the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital as a Recreation Therapy Program Assistant providing activity-based assessment of motor and speech skills and treatment via recreation and social activities. From 2010-2013 she was a Psychological Assistant to a Private Practice Neuropsychologist administering neuropsychological, psychological, vocational and parental assessments. In August of 2009, Mel started at Dreamcatcher by taking their Caring with Critters Exploratory Workshop. Her passion for integrating animals into therapeutic practice ignited and took flight. Her love for animals and aim to heal and touch as many lives as possible found its path. She continued to volunteer at Dreamcatcher until beginning her practicum in 2012. In October 2012-2013 she was also a practicum student with the Hope Heels Service Dog Team Building Institute providing individual counselling and therapeutic services to adult individuals with a range of presenting challenges and mental health concerns primarily: trauma, anxiety and difficulties with emotional regulation. As aforementioned, in October 2012-2013 she was a practicum student with Dreamcatcher Nature-Assisted Therapy providing individual and family therapy to a variety of individuals with a range of presenting challenges and mental health concerns. Ages ranged from 2.5 years old to adults and a variety of mental health concerns such as: trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, developmental delays, emotional dysregulation, attachment disorders, sensory disorders, FASD and witnesses of family addictions and violence.
After practicum Mel stayed on to continue as a Dreamcatcher Mental Health Therapist. She became certified as a Canadian Certified Counsellor through the CCPA and then as a Registered Provisional Psychologist with CAP. She primarily utilizes Animal and Nature Assisted Therapy and Traditional Talk therapy and integrates music, play and art-therapy medium based techniques.
Mel holds a Master of Counselling Degree and is currently a Registered Provisional Psychologist in Alberta. She has been involved in the area of psychology for over 10 years in a variety of settings with a variety of ages and mental health issues.
During her 2004 and 2005 summers, she was an internship student for the Pathways Regional Mental Health Day Program and Vocational Services working with adults with a variety of mental illnesses. From 2008-2011 she worked as a casual volunteer child mentor with a boy diagnosed as high functioning on the autism spectrum (Pervasive Development Disorder). In 2008- 2009 she was a practicum student with the YWCA facilitating groups for helping children deal with bereavement and divorce and facilitating weekly groups for girls as a part of a pilot girl power program. In 2009-2010 she was a practicum student with the Stollery Children’s Hospital Pediatric Centre for Weight and Health (PCWH) Weight Wise Program co-leading group programs for teens and for the parents of the children/youth referred to the program. From 2009-2012 and 2016-present she has been employed by the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital as a Recreation Therapy Program Assistant providing activity-based assessment of motor and speech skills and treatment via recreation and social activities. From 2010-2013 she was a Psychological Assistant to a Private Practice Neuropsychologist administering neuropsychological, psychological, vocational and parental assessments. In August of 2009, Mel started at Dreamcatcher by taking their Caring with Critters Exploratory Workshop. Her passion for integrating animals into therapeutic practice ignited and took flight. Her love for animals and aim to heal and touch as many lives as possible found its path. She continued to volunteer at Dreamcatcher until beginning her practicum in 2012. In October 2012-2013 she was also a practicum student with the Hope Heels Service Dog Team Building Institute providing individual counselling and therapeutic services to adult individuals with a range of presenting challenges and mental health concerns primarily: trauma, anxiety and difficulties with emotional regulation. As aforementioned, in October 2012-2013 she was a practicum student with Dreamcatcher Nature-Assisted Therapy providing individual and family therapy to a variety of individuals with a range of presenting challenges and mental health concerns. Ages ranged from 2.5 years old to adults and a variety of mental health concerns such as: trauma, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, developmental delays, emotional dysregulation, attachment disorders, sensory disorders, FASD and witnesses of family addictions and violence.
After practicum Mel stayed on to continue as a Dreamcatcher Mental Health Therapist. She became certified as a Canadian Certified Counsellor through the CCPA and then as a Registered Provisional Psychologist with CAP. She primarily utilizes Animal and Nature Assisted Therapy and Traditional Talk therapy and integrates music, play and art-therapy medium based techniques.
Cara Stone MSW, Registered Social Worker
Cara is deeply passionate about children and youth’s well being and anything that gives her a chance to be outside. She is excited to be at a place where people experience insights about themselves and others by interacting with animals and nature. She came to Dreamcatcher after completing her Masters of Social Work and assisting children and youth with their mental health in a variety of residential services and cultural exchange programs.
Cara is naturally a fun loving and genuine person. She practices from a strength-based approach in which she works to create a safe place for others to process, believes that people have unique skills and capacities to create change in their lives, and collaborates with them to do so. Through this approach, she incorporates animal-assisted, trauma-informed, cognitive-behaviour, and narrative therapy.
Cara is deeply passionate about children and youth’s well being and anything that gives her a chance to be outside. She is excited to be at a place where people experience insights about themselves and others by interacting with animals and nature. She came to Dreamcatcher after completing her Masters of Social Work and assisting children and youth with their mental health in a variety of residential services and cultural exchange programs.
Cara is naturally a fun loving and genuine person. She practices from a strength-based approach in which she works to create a safe place for others to process, believes that people have unique skills and capacities to create change in their lives, and collaborates with them to do so. Through this approach, she incorporates animal-assisted, trauma-informed, cognitive-behaviour, and narrative therapy.
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Allison Hay BSW, Registered Social Worker
Allison is a Registered Social Worker in Alberta. She has over 25 years of experience working with adults and adolescents with a variety of behavioural, emotional, legal and mental health challenges. Allison has worked in a variety of settings including adult and youth correctional facilities, hospital and community mental health services. Allison has been working at Dreamcatcher since August 2017. She has a joy for learning about and interacting with animals and has a deep respect for the healing that can come through these relationships and in being in nature. Combining nature, animals, and in particular, horses, in assisting people toward health is an opportunity that she regards with excitement and is one that she believes can be of benefit to all. Allison is in the process of becoming certified through Equine Facilitated Wellness – Canada as a Mental Health Professional and as an Equine Learning Professional. |
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Jess Mayhew B.H.Sc. - Office Administration
Jess graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Addictions Counselling in 2009. She grew up in the Okanagan, with such a passion for children and animals that she knew she had to find some capacity to work with them together. She has a great love and respect for all species of animals from horses to salamanders, fish to hedgehogs. She has a particular fondness for reptiles of all sorts, especially snakes.
Jess loves working with kids of all ages and especially enjoys the opportunity to teach them all sorts of things about animals, like how reptiles are ectothermic, or chickens typically take 21 days to hatch. In her downtime, Jess enjoys fire spinning, drawing haida artwork, playing video games, gardening, and caring for her toddler son, husband, and dog, Ezio. She loves to travel and hopes to visit Iceland and Ireland in the upcoming years.
You can usually catch Jess giving a belly rub to Rain the horse, checking up on the chickens, or napping with Emma the sheep!
Jess graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Addictions Counselling in 2009. She grew up in the Okanagan, with such a passion for children and animals that she knew she had to find some capacity to work with them together. She has a great love and respect for all species of animals from horses to salamanders, fish to hedgehogs. She has a particular fondness for reptiles of all sorts, especially snakes.
Jess loves working with kids of all ages and especially enjoys the opportunity to teach them all sorts of things about animals, like how reptiles are ectothermic, or chickens typically take 21 days to hatch. In her downtime, Jess enjoys fire spinning, drawing haida artwork, playing video games, gardening, and caring for her toddler son, husband, and dog, Ezio. She loves to travel and hopes to visit Iceland and Ireland in the upcoming years.
You can usually catch Jess giving a belly rub to Rain the horse, checking up on the chickens, or napping with Emma the sheep!
Emily Chalifoux - Evening Administration
Emily started volunteering at Dreamcatcher in 2017 to help satisfy her love for animals. At the time, she was just graduating high school and had her head set on going to school to become a veterinarian technician. However, as she spent more and more time at Dreamcatcher, she quickly changed her mind to psychology; specifically Animal Assisted Therapy. The idea of working with both people and animals in such a beautiful environment is the best of both worlds. Now, at the age of 20, Emily is beginning to study Bachelor of Arts Psychology at Grant Macewan University.
Emily started volunteering at Dreamcatcher in 2017 to help satisfy her love for animals. At the time, she was just graduating high school and had her head set on going to school to become a veterinarian technician. However, as she spent more and more time at Dreamcatcher, she quickly changed her mind to psychology; specifically Animal Assisted Therapy. The idea of working with both people and animals in such a beautiful environment is the best of both worlds. Now, at the age of 20, Emily is beginning to study Bachelor of Arts Psychology at Grant Macewan University.