Meet Our Team of Experts Dedicated to Your Wellness

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, interns and staff alike are compassionate and kind, prepared to help out wherever needed. 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 Human Services Assistance Animals (HSAAs).

We also find it highly important to recognize our amazing, furry HSAAs who have moved on before us. Being apart of our team lasts a lifetime and beyond. We hope to honor their contributions, preserve their legacy, and acknowledge their impact on our team as we continue our practices.

Here you will find a memoire of all our HSAAs who will forever remain in our hearts.

Eileen Bona, M.Ed., Registered Psychologist, Director and Founder of Dreamcatcher™

eileen

Eileen is the youngest of 11 children and grew up with her brother John who had a severe brain injury, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy caused by meningitis when he was eight months old. This lived experience enabled her to relate to individuals and families that experience similar trials and tribulations. This significant relationship, along with the selfless example of her mother who tenderly and painstakingly cared for John all the days of his challenging life, propagated a burning desire within Eileen to help those who had difficulty getting the help they needed.

Eileen apprenticed with a psychologist for four years who specialized in working with adults with organic brain dysfunction and severe behaviour and boundary disturbances, and since 1988 has been working with people with disabilities, behavioural concerns, and mental health issues.

She is a past Vice President of the Brain Injury Association of Alberta, past liaison Vice President of the Sydney Association for Community Living and has worked in group-homes and institutionalized settings.
She holds a Master of Education from the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Alberta and has worked as a private practitioner in behavior management in Alberta since 1995. She founded Dreamcatcher™ Nature Assisted Therapy in 2003 to allow for a non-threatening and motivating therapeutic environment for people to find guidance, comfort, and joy.

Although her career started with adults with severe neurodevelopmental issues, she shifted into working with children and youth shortly after. Today, she is a registered psychologist and focuses on helping people of all ages and from all walks of life who have had difficulty getting the help they need. This includes people with complex trauma, multiple mental health diagnoses and neuroatypical conditions including brain injury and other neurodevelopmental conditions. She is well versed in specialized therapeutic modalities such as EMDR and Animal and Nature Assisted Therapy, and is one of the leading professionals in Animal Assisted Therapy in the country.

Therapists

Melonie Labrecque, M.A., Senior Therapist, Registered Psychologist #7835

Melonie

Mel holds a Master of Counselling Degree and is currently a Registered 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, music integrated therapy, and integrates play and art-therapy based techniques.

Reesa Lerner, MSW, Registered Clinical Social Worker

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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.

Janine Kristensen, M.Ed., Registered Psychologist

Janine

Janine holds a Master of Education with a Specialization in School and Clinical Child Psychology and a Bachelor of Science with Honors in Psychology. Animals have always had a special place in Janine’s heart. She has fostered dogs with Paws for Life and volunteered with Little Bits Therapeutic Riding Association at the Whitemud Equine Learning Centre for several years. Volunteering at Little Bits opened her eyes to the beneficial impact horses can have on people with mental health diagnoses and physical disabilities. These experiences started her on a journey to discover how she could integrate animals into therapy, which has excitingly culminated in working as a therapist at Dreamcatcher.

Janine has worked with children, youth and adults for over 11 years in group home care, working in different areas such as Addictions, Intervention, Family Support and High Risk programs. She has worked with people with various mental health disorders with the desire to support each person in their journey.

Janine provides psychological assessments and therapeutic interventions with her main theoretical framework rooted in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She also offers Play Therapy interventions and is learning how to integrate Animal Assisted Therapy into her therapeutic approach as well. In her spare time, Janine loves climbing and mountaineering in the gloriously beautiful Rocky Mountains year round.

Kaytlyn Morris, MSW, Registered Clinical Social Worker

kaytlyn

Kaytlyn started her journey with Dreamcatcher as a practicum student in 2018. She found herself staying with the team through various roles, as a volunteer, animal handler, behaviour interventionist, and now a therapist. She quickly found her passion in Animal-Assisted Therapy and Nature-Assisted Therapy, combining helping others with her love of animals.

Kaytlyn supports children, youth, and adults with experiences of anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal ideation, ADHD, FASD, grief and loss, trauma, and substance use. She has worked in health care as a child mental health therapist and as an outreach social worker in Edmonton's most vulnerable communities and correctional facilities, supporting adults who were houseless and facing multiple mental health and social challenges. She is competent in providing crisis intervention, safety planning, and harm reduction strategies. She is an advocate for families and their children, assisting them to overcome systemic barriers to nurture their needs and wellness. Kaytlyn works from a place of non-judgmental, client-centered, strength based, attachment-focused and trauma-informed support. In addition to Animal-Assisted Therapy, she includes aspects and strategies from Art Therapy, Play Therapy, CBT, DBT, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Parts work in her sessions. She also offers Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as a therapeutic option and has completed the EMDR Child Specialist training.

In Kaytlyn's free time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends. She can be found riding her horse, traveling to the mountains, or going to concerts. She also likes to relax in nature near her home, where she takes her dog, Randy, for walks and "sniffys". Randy has undergone significant training and has been screened and certified as an Animal-Assisted Human Services animal at Dreamcatcher, making him a true member of the therapeutic team.

Kaytlyn offers inclusive therapy to the Francophone community and is able to provide sessions for children in French! This is an area of focus for Kaytlyn as she continues to expand her knowledge of the French language in a mental health setting. Bienvenue à Dreamcatcher!

Tianna Tenney, M.C., Provisional Psychologist

Tianna

Tianna is a Métis Registered Provisional Psychologist passionate about helping others heal and grow. With over 13 years of experience, she has worked with diverse populations, including Indigenous communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, survivors of domestic violence, and neurodiverse people facing trauma, anxiety, or significant life transitions.

Her journey with Animal-Assisted Therapy began in 2017 when she discovered Dreamcatcher™ and was inspired by the healing power of animals and nature. She quickly became involved, volunteering and completing the 4-day internship in animal assisted therapy.

Tianna holds a Master in Counselling Psychology. She specializes in trauma, anxiety, depression, PTSD, 2SLBTQ+ concerns, ADHD, Autism, self-harm, domestic violence, addictions, relationship challenges, and generational and residential school trauma. She takes a compassionate, solution-focused approach, using EMDR for trauma and Gottman Method training for couples therapy.

Beyond private practice, Tianna has experience as a Gladue Report Writer for the Alberta Government, domestic violence shelter crisis intervention worker, outreach team lead for individuals experiencing homelessness, and family support worker for those living in poverty and foster care.Tianna believes in creating a welcoming space where clients can explore challenges and build resilience. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her three cats, travelling with family, swimming and snowboarding.

Sarah Nicholson, M.C., Provisional Psychologist

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In September 2023, Sarah began her internship placement with Dreamcatcher™ as a Master of Counselling Student through City University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology from Concordia University. Sarah started her journey at Dreamcatcher™ during her undergraduate degree in 2016 and immediately fell in love with the animals, the land, and the people. She has since been working in the field of psychology with high-risk populations for 7 years, with various ages and mental health issues.
As a Provisional Psychologist, Sarah utilizes a trauma-informed, client-centred and strength-based approach, and is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She also includes strategies from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy and Narrative Therapy. She has experience working with children, youth and parents with anxiety, depression, self-harm, substance use, and interpersonal violence, and is competent in providing crisis intervention and safety planning. Sarah believes in the special healing power that nature and animals can provide and is passionate about incorporating both into her therapeutic practice. She believes that everyone can achieve a healthy and fulfilling life and is skilled at highlighting the strengths, goals, and values that each individual client has.
In her spare time, Sarah enjoys gardening, spending time at the local gym, reading a good book or spending time with her family and her dog, Murphy.

Mandi Timani, M.C., Mental Health Therapist

mandi

Mandi is pursuing a Master of Counselling through City University of Seattle which is providing her with a solid understanding of diverse counselling approaches, therapeutic interventions, and techniques for addressing crises and trauma. She is passionate about her work with children, youth, and families and her focus of interest includes client-centered therapy, trauma-informed care, strength-based support, and multicultural considerations. Mandi comes to us with an undergrad in Child and Youth Care and has been working in the Human Services field for nearly 20 years.

Throughout her undergrad, she specialized in Child Life and completed her practicums within the children’s hospitals in Edmonton. During that time, Mandi attended a pet visitation program with children and youth, and it was then that she recognized the deep value that animals have in a therapeutic setting. She spent several years working within the school system with children with developmental disabilities, as well as within group homes with at risk youth. In her free time, Mandi enjoys spending time with her own children and would never say no to a nap!

Colin Brekke, M.C., Mental Health Therapist

colin

Colin is a Mental Health Therapist at Dreamcatcher working toward the completion of his Master of Counselling Psychology from City University of Seattle. He has extensive experience with vulnerable populations, particularly youth, and has worked collaboratively with Children Services for over 3 years where he developed a deep understanding of the challenges faced by youth in care, as well as their families. Additionally, for 3 years, Colin volunteered with the Canadian Mental Health Association, providing crisis support to callers, conducting risk assessments, and assisting individuals in distress by helping to de-escalate situations.

Colin uses a collaborative, strength-based, approach to therapy, meeting clients where they are and guiding them to reshape their personal stories to emphasize their strengths, resilience and core values. He has a strong interest in combining conversation and meaningful experiences within therapy. With a deep appreciation for animals and nature, Colin integrates cognitive and experiential methods into sessions, utilizing nature and creative interventions to help clients gain fresh perspectives, supporting emotional regulation, connection, and engagement.

In his free time, Colin enjoys exercising, playing hockey and spending time with family, friends, and his cat, George.

Intern Therapists & Behaviour Interventionists

Liesel Wierenga, Behavioural Interventionist

Liesel

Liesel has lived and worked with horses and farm animals her entire life until 2017 when she found herself horse-less for the first time. She began volunteering at Dreamcatcher to help fill the void with animal care and animal handling. This grew into the role of Volunteer Coordinator, then Behaviour Interventionist, and into her current role of Recreation Therapist after completing her Bachelor of Therapeutic Recreation through the University of Lethbridge.

As a Recreation Therapist, Liesel works with clients of all ages and abilities to develop emotional, social, cognitive, and physical skills through meaningful leisure. Her practice is grounded in the Flourishing Through Leisure Model, a strengths-based framework that centers on a client's abilities, aspirations, and environmental resources to improve overall wellbeing. Whether working with individuals or groups, she uses a client-centered and strengths-based approach that meets people where they are — and builds from there.

At Dreamcatcher, Liesel's focus is clients who experience mood and behaviour difficulties and need support building emotional and social skills. She works primarily with Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) and Nature-Based Therapy (NAT), because these modalities offer something other clinical settings often can't: the freedom to move, to be oneself, and to be genuinely present. Including animals and nature into the therapeutic milieu has been evidenced through research to be remarkably beneficial for teaching communication, emotional awareness, and relationship-building in non-verbal ways that feel natural rather than prescribed.

Having also practiced in hospital, day program, and care facility settings, Liesel has witnessed firsthand what becomes possible when therapy moves outdoors. The therapeutic power of animals and nature has shaped her own life profoundly, and being able to offer that same potential to others is what inspires and motivates her work every day.

Carley Ritz, Intern Therapist

Carley

Carley is a current graduate student with the City University of Seattle and throughout her Master of Counselling program has been passionately studying Animal-Assisted and Nature-Assisted Therapy. She deeply values both holistic wellness and animal welfare, and understands the healing that can come in the presence of animals.

Carley grew up in Saskatoon with many rescue pets, and attended the Outdoor School program, which deepened her appreciation of how powerful nature is in supporting mental health and well-being. She continues to strengthen her horsemanship and equine skills, which enables therapeutic creativity.

Over the past ten years, Carley has been working in the mental health field with students and staff in an educational setting after graduating with her Bachelor Degree in Psychology with the University of Alberta. She brings with her a decade of experience working with children and youth, leading restorative circling practices, and socio-emotional group facilitation. Carley utilizes a strength-based and client-centred approach to offer flexible and individualized support for her clients. She integrates elements of cognitive-behavioural mindfulness techniques, emotion-focused therapy, and compassionate communication to engage in peaceful dialogue while getting to the root of one’s feelings and needs.

Throughout her time at Dreamcatcher, her goal is to make meaningful connections with her clients, and learn from the breadth of wisdom and knowledge of her fellow teammates - both animal and human.

In her free time, Carley loves to cook, read, and spend time outdoors with her dog, Sophie.

Eric Evans, Intern Therapist

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Eric is an Intern Therapist at Dreamcatcher and a graduate student at the City University of Seattle, where he is pursuing his studies in counselling. With a strong passion for Animal-Assisted and Nature-Assisted Therapy, Eric aims to build a counselling career that integrates these modalities.

Having grown up around animals, he has witnessed firsthand the profound impact they can have on healing, and he’s eager to incorporate this into his practice. In addition to his academic pursuits, Eric has extensive experience mentoring children and teens, particularly through his love for coaching and playing hockey. Living just minutes away from Dreamcatcher, he has been a dedicated volunteer for the past two years, forging meaningful connections with the animals and developing a deep appreciation for Dreamcatcher’s work.

Eric approaches counselling from a client-centered perspective, emphasizing clients’ strengths to help meet their unique needs. While his academic training has emphasized Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, he also draws from Emotion-Focused Therapy and incorporates mindfulness-based practices into his work. Outside of his professional and academic life, Eric enjoys cooking, exercising, playing and coaching hockey, and spending quality time with friends and family.

Dog Trainer

Danielle Clark, Animal Behaviour Specialist

Danielle

Danielle holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and has been certified as a Professional Dog Trainer – Knowledge Assessed through the Canadian Association of Professional Pet Dog Trainers (CAPPDT). She completed the Calgary Humane Society Dog Training Apprenticeship program, where she continued to serve as a full time Animal Behaviour Specialist and Trainer, behaviorally screening and training animals in shelter, as well as teaching public classes.

Danielle has completed 2 trainings in Tellington TTouch for Companion Animals and has been a licensed presenter for Dogs & Storks and The Dog & Baby Connection Family Paws Parent Education programs. Danielle has been professionally training animals since 2006, with an extensive background working with many different animal species, including exotics such as Ring-tailed Lemurs and Nurse Sharks, as well as years of experience training horses.

In addition to her experience training pet dogs, she has also worked as a lead trainer for a Psychiatric Service Dog Training Institute and multiple Animal Assisted Therapy organizations. Danielle also serves as an instructor for Dreamcatcher's Animal Assisted Wellness Academy and Lakeland College's Animal Assisted Wellness certificate program.

Support Staff

Jess Mayhew, B.H.Sc., Administrative Manager

Jess

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 reading, cooking, fire spinning, drawing haida artwork, playing video games, gardening, and caring for her son, husband, 23 yr old leopard gecko and foster cats. She loves to travel and hopes to visit Iceland and Ireland in the upcoming years.

Megan Riley, B.A., Partnership & Program Development Manager

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Megan holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology through MacEwan University. She has always had a deep connection and love for animals and nature and since beginning her studies, she knew she wanted to incorporate non-traditional mediums into her practice.

From 2016-2020, she worked with rescue animals at the Edmonton Humane Society where she developed a deep understanding of animal behavior, welfare, and the human-animal bond. In 2019, she discovered Dreamcatcher™ where she started her journey as a volunteer and later stepped into the Volunteer Coordinator position in 2021. During her time with us, she has gained a range of professional skills including marketing and tourism, allowing her to help share Dreamcatcher's story with a wider audience and create memorable experiences for the community.

In her spare time, Megan likes to go hiking in the mountains, create art, meditate and dance the night away at music festivals. One day, she would like to travel around the world to countries that are diverse and rich in culture.

Raina Marion, Evening Administrative Assistant

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Raina is currently taking a gap year after graduating high school in June 2025, she hopes to take the Diagnostic Medical Imaging program at NAIT this coming fall 2026. Raina played high-level hockey for many years and currently works as a power skating coach for Smith Hockey Skills.

Raina enjoys spending time with her dog Luna and her polydactyl cat Digits. In her spare time, Raina likes to snowboard, draw, and paint.

Shea Gerrie, B.A., Volunteer Coordinator

Shea

More to come!

Dale Vandenberg, Engineer, Property Maintenance

Dale

Dale is a Civil Engineering Technologist by trade and an “If you can dream it, I can make it” at heart. He loves working with his hands and being outdoors and it was his idea of having a country garden that planted the seed to fuel Eileen’s creation of Dreamcatcher™.

After 6 months of searching for the perfect home with Eileen, they discovered the property that is now Dreamcatcher™. Dale immediately went to work with fencing and seeding pastures, purchasing heavy equipment to maintain the land, and cutting and clearing walking trails. To this day he continues to assist the program by splitting and stacking wood, creating new furniture for staff to offer more therapeutic mediums, acquiring hay and straw for the animals, maintaining the property, and building anything the team can dream up. If you have a vision, Dale will bring it to life.

The smiles on the faces of the people that visit, the joy experienced by the volunteers and staff, and seeing the once homeless or hurting animals thrive, has become his priceless return on investment. Dale’s passion with landscaping and loving the outdoors has been put to good use at Dreamcatcher™ as around the property you can see bountiful birdhouses, bird feeders and even a bat box! You can also see Dale’s handiwork with the addition of beautiful flower gardens around the barn and office, sunflowers around the second corral, picnic tables and benches, and beautiful trees to “spruce” up an area or to commemorate our past human services assistance animals.

From extreme hayrides to plowing snow, to chopping wood or creating new animal homes, it doesn't get any better than this.

Human Services Assistance Animals

Dreamcatcher™ is a haven to many animals, some of whom were once homeless and hurting. These animals have found healing and a forever home at Dreamcatcher™ and now dedicate their days to helping the people who come to Dreamcatcher™. Each one of them has a story and special skills which make them excellent partners to work with in Animal-Assisted Therapy and Equine Facilitated Counselling. Together both animals and humans find hope and healing by learning to be themselves - no strings attached. These critters are our Human Services Assistance Animals (HSAAs) and our friends. All of the Dreamcatcher™ HSAAs have been specially chosen, screened and trained for the work that they do. They are an essential part of the Animal and Nature-Assisted Therapy program at Dreamcatcher™.

Rain

Rain is a purebred paint mare that has only half an ear. She was born in the midst of winter and was not found until her ears had already sustained terrible frostbite. Her legs had also frozen and as a result, her growth is stunted and she will likely suffer arthritis throughout her lifetime. Upon finding the half frozen new filly, the farmer and his family took her inside and raised her in their basement until she was strong and healthy enough to live outside in spring. Rain was loved and spoiled by the children who cared for her.

Once placed with other horses, Rain had trouble fitting in due to her lack of ears. All of the horses she met thought that Rain was angry or bossy all the time (as horses who are angry or bossy, lay their ears flat back on their head). The family decided Rain needed another home. A kind lady named Cindy met Rain by chance and decided to take her home. Cindy tried to integrate Rain into her herd of horses. The horses rejected her and were unkind to her. As Rain was only a year old, and a kind soul by nature, she had no defense.

Rain was misunderstood by all the horses she encountered. Shortly thereafter, Cindy heard about Dreamcatcher™ and donated "No Ears" to the program along with a llama named Mr. Spitzie whom she had also rescued. We renamed No Ears with Whispering Rain and introduced her to some children with disabilities who have loved her with all their hearts.

When Rain came to Dreamcatcher™ she was the first horse on the property. This was to her advantage as all new horses who arrived seemed to accept her more readily just for who she was. Rain is currently third in the horse hierarchy. Because Rain was "raised" by humans, rather than a horse mom, she is very people oriented but also has a few quirks. Rain is very loving, gentle and loyal. She is a solid horse and can handle the excited fast movements of children without blinking an eye. She loves head hugs and getting yummy treats.

Rain's therapeutic specialty is in teaching tolerance, patience and boundaries. She loves with all her heart and never discriminates. She steals people's hearts because she never gives up no matter how much she has been through. She is a lot like many of the people she helps and is truly cut out for this work.

Echo

Echo is a thoroughbred race horse. He was a second place winner at Northlands in Edmonton and it is said that he was worth $20,000. While racing, Echo injured his knee and needed surgery to get back on the track. Once healed, he got back on the track but refused to run. As a result, it is believed he was not treated well and then sold to a kind lady for one dollar. She in turn, sold him to Dreamcatcher™ who was able to purchase him with money donated in memory of a young girl named Hillary who died of cancer. Echo is Hillary's horse and when he first came to live here he was sad and stayed away from everyone, even the other horses. He needed some help to gain a healthy weight and some extra care for his crumbling hooves. Several years later it was discovered that Echo had cancer in his eye lid, which had to be removed. Today Echo is healthy and happy.

In the herd, Echo is second in line in the hierarchy. He is like a “big brother” to the other animals and often plays games with Moonshine, the mini donkey and TeddyBear and Gravy, the mini horses. He takes care of the new arrivals, helping them feel safe and assisting them to find their place in the herd. Echo also has a mischievous sense of humor and will often test the boundaries of what he can get away with, such as playfully nudging an unsuspecting handler sending them off balance, or untying his lead rope from the fence…no matter how well secured! Echo is kind and gentle. He seems to be a deep thinker and connects strongly with those he works with.

Echo has a way of making people feel special. As a result, he is most often chosen as the horse people want to work with. This is surprising as he really did not seem to like people much when he first arrived. He has learned to trust at Dreamcatcher™ and now he is teaching this to others. Echo's therapeutic specialty is teaching kindness and gentleness to people who are generally aggressive or angry. He also excels at helping people follow direction and at teaching people who have been abused that it is ok to trust again.

He has found his forever home here at Dreamcatcher™ and appears to thoroughly enjoy his new job. He is the first to greet anyone who walks up to the fence and he even calls to those he sees coming from a distance. Meeting Echo is truly a pleasure.

Zeus

Zeus is a Shire/Paint Draft horse with an incredible story and a caring personality. His previous owner is a retired Chief Information Officer with Alberta Children’s Services and in 2012, he led a ride with Zeus across Canada in support of victims of Child Sexual Exploitation.

Zeus is truly a “gentle giant” and came to live with us at Dreamcatcher™ because his loving owner wanted him to have other horses to care for while he continued to help people in need. When Zeus arrived, he quickly became the herd's healthy and strong leader, providing protection and comfort to them while teaching people about leadership, assertiveness, boundaries, empathy, and social skills.

Zeus is friendly, calm, and fun. He often engages in games with the other horses, especially with his pal Gravy. He is also known to initiate play with people by lipping and tugging at their zippers or toques. It is his playful nature that helps lighten the spirits of those around him, bringing them smiles, joy, and laughter.

romeo

Romeo, formerly Rupert, is a stunning Connemara, brought to Dreamcatcher™ by a wonderful family whose daughter jumped competitively with him. Eventually, as people grow up their interests change, and Romeo needed a new home.

In Fall 2018, Dreamcatcher™ friends, family, and horses were still feeling sorrow after the loss of our lead mare Buttons in March of that year, but were looking for a new horse at the same time Romeo was looking for a new home so our charity purchased Romeo for the program and Dreamcatcher™ became his new forever home.

Romeo loves people and is one of the first to come over to you, especially if you have cookies! He is not afraid to show is affection, showering you with kisses and getting into your personal space. It was this love and adoration that prompted the name change to Romeo. His specialty is teaching others about social skills, boundaries, and frustration tolerance.

Teddybear

Teddy Bear, Teddy for short, is a Shetland Pony who was donated to us by a family with small children. Teddy used to give many pony rides to many children until one day he decided that he didn't want to do it anymore. He started to run in circles when the children were riding him and he became hard to catch. When we met Teddy, he didn't want to know us. He ran from us every time we tried to get near him. He wouldn't even come over if we had his favorite food. Teddy has trouble trusting people and thinks that we only want to be with him to ride on his back. We promised Teddy that we would never ride him and we never have and we never will.

Even after several years of work, Teddy still has trouble trusting. He has improved greatly and will, once he knows you, come and take treats from your hand or out of a bucket. A lot of calm patience is required but once you get a halter on him he relaxes. Occasionally he will still have moments of panic and run in a circle. Teddy prefers calm, slow movements and sounds.

We love Teddy for who he is and we won't give up on him. We'll keep trying to help him to overcome his fear of people and eventually we'll convince him that he will never have to do another pony ride again.

Teddy teaches patience, kindness and empathy. When working with him we are truly working FOR him. He also helps people understand that it is normal to lose trust when we are disrespected or harmed but that it is always possible to gain it back again with love and kindness.

Gravy

Gravy was living with some older people who had him for their grandchildren. When the grandchildren outgrew him, he went to live with a kind family who got him a wife named mashed potatoes who suffered from complications while giving birth to their unborn foal and unfortunately, the two of them passed away.

Heartbroken and alone, Gravy and his owners both longed for him to have companionship in a home that would provide much love and affection. And so he came to Dreamcatcher™ in the fall of 2018 which at the same time Teddy was missing his mini-horse friends and the two of them developed a friendship.

Gravy is a very affectionate and spunky mini horse and can sometimes be difficult around little kids and takes advantage of their size. Gravy tends to believe he is larger than he actually is, when Zeus arrived, Gravy tried to challenge Zeus, when he did not prevail, he became Zeus’ lackie following him around and nipping at his legs.

Since being with us he has taught many about healthy boundaries and respect. He is a great introduction to horses for those that may be fearful of the bigger equines.

Ceilidh

Ceilidh (pronounced “Kay-leigh”) is a standard donkey. She was donated with her sister Daisy by Sue McIntosh of the Healing Hooves program and came to live at Dreamcatcher™ in 2006.  Before coming to Dreamcatcher™, she and her sister worked with Sue helping children and youth with mental health issues.

When Ceilidh was born, her mother refused to feed her or look after her.  Ceilidh was fostered out to a loving family where she was bottle fed.  Soon after, Daisy was born by Ceilidh's mother.  It was assumed that Daisy would be treated the same as Ceilidh was but in fact, Daisy was treated well by her mother and was able to stay in her care as a young jenny. In the end, both Ceilidh and Daisy went to live at Sue's and then to Dreamcatcher™ where they both help people understand that life may sometimes seem unfair but it often works out for the best in the end.

Ceilidh has an adopted brother, a mini donkey named Moonshine who usually follows her around. Moonshine likes to play and like any younger sibling can sometimes be a pain! Ceildih is tolerant and loving toward Moonshine but will put him in his place if needed. Her and Moonshine live with Rain where they help her navigate their pen as her seeing-eye donkeys!

Ceilidh is very sweet and usually calm and laid back. She loves working with people and enjoys a good ear scratch. She LOVES treats!  When she sees you at the treat barrel she will put on a singing show of ‘Eyawing’ and braying so loud that you have no choice but to feed her.

At some point in Ceildih’s life she over ate and foundered. This is evident by the large fat deposit in her neck which causes her neck to flop to the right side. Ceilidh did recover from her time of founder and hasn’t experienced it since, however her neck will always remain flopped to the side.

She loves working with people and help them to overcome their fears, accept things the way they are and learn to be loving and kind. She also helps people increase their frustration tolerance and learn to be patient. She is great at helping people become good problem solvers.

Moonshine

We have had Moonshine since he was 6 months old. The lady who rescued Rain and Mr. Spitzie, Cindy, made Moonshine special for us. She breeds mini donkeys and had promised us a Jack as soon as he was weaned from his mother. Moonshine came to live with us in the summer of 2006. At first he refused to walk or go through gates when he was led on halter. Now, if he is wearing his halter, the only way he’ll walk is if he can hold the rope in his mouth and walk himself! He is truly a donkey! Moonshine follows us everywhere when he is not on lead and he is the first to run up and meet and greet new people.

Moonshine loves to play and often can be found wreaking havoc in the pasture by chasing all the larger animals and smacking Echo, the race horse, with large sticks that he holds in his mouth to do so. Moonshine is the adopted little brother of Ceilidh and he loves to follow her around. Moonshine is also friends with the miniature horse Gravy and Shetland Pony Teddy, but he seems to be particularly fond of Echo. He and Echo spend many hours playing and goofing around in the pasture. Moonshine is a delight to watch and to be with.

Moonshine specializes in helping people feel welcome and comfortable, providing a wonderful sense of comic relief, teaching people to remember to play and have fun and helping people who have a fear of large animals to overcome their fear while building their self confidence. Moonshine is also very sensitive and has been known to stay with people who are weeping until they feel better.

Emma

Emma arrived in December 2015 with her llama sister, Snow. She loves to greet visitors and will lift her head all the way back so you can give a really good neck scratch! Emma has been such a blessing as her calm, gentle nature makes it easy for people to approach her.

In the winter of 2018/2019 she suffered a great loss, as her best friends Bilbo the Sheep and Snow the Llama passed away 5 months apart from each other. Despite her grief, she is still there for people and animals and is a great grounding presence for anyone having a difficult day or in need of help.

In Spring 2020, Dreamcatcher™ accepted a yearling sheep Ellie. At first Emma was not sure what to make of this spry, young thing but Ellie soon won over her heart and now the two are inseparable.

Ellie

We got sweet Ellie from a very loving home in February 2020. At first she demonstrated the anxiety of being in a new place while trying to form relationships and fit in. With Emma's acceptance, she was able to find her place in the herd and she demonstrated how quickly we can form attachments and become loving when we are loved. She then allowed clients who were also anxious and trying to find their place to feel safe with her.

Ellie shows kindness, love, and empathy to the people she meets. She teaches people that if they are loved and accepted that they too can form healthy attachments and feel safe. She is also excellent at keeping people calm and relaxed while in her presence.

Wanda

Wanda came to us in June 2016 with her half-brother Joey after he was abandoned by his mother. When she arrived, she had to live with the chickens for a few weeks as it is important to quarantine and new animals before introducing them to the herd.

Wanda was lonely but now happily lives with her new step-sisters, Luna and Stardust and Emma the sheep. She is the Princess of the Pen and is the first to greet you when visiting. She loves neck scratches, but especially loves to have between her toes rubbed and will put her foot on your knee for her pedicure! Wanda loves to go walking with us and stops often to check out what she can eat along the way.

When she is tired, she makes the cutest little noises and when she sleeps, she snores! Wanda is such a great goat, teaching assertiveness and respect to those that come to visit at her at Dreamcatcher™.

Oliver

Oliver "Ollie" was born at the ranch to their mama Wanda after the longest, most anticipated baby goat delivery in Dreamcatcher™ history. On May 29th, 2019, the hottest day of the year, we welcomed him, his brother Sully, and their sister Ruby to the Dreamcatcher™ program. Sadly, Ruby passed away as a baby and Sully crossed the rainbow bridge in December 2023.

Stardust & Luna

Luna and Stardust came to Dreamcatcher™ in May 2018, and their past owner thought they might both be pregnant, but wasn’t entirely sure. Sure enough within 45 days they both delivered. Luna’s baby Jupiter arrived in July, but sadly Stardust’s baby, Starblanket, passed away due to complications during birth in June. One year later, Stardust gave birth to Nova on April 4th, 2019 and a month later, Luna gave birth to Orion on May 6th!

Luna is a caring mother and a friendly, curious goat. She takes time to warm up to new people but once she does, she is so loving. Luna spends a lot of time with Orion, they can often be observed grazing in the pasture together, cuddled up in the doghouse, or under the goat shelter.

Stardust is curious, friendly, and has a large personal space bubble. She is very timid and cautious, and takes quite a bit of time to get used to visitors. She likes to be around people but does not always like to be touched. She is quite curious and if you respect her space, she will follow you around with the rest of the herd and once she gets to know you, she will come take treats from your hands!

Both Luna and Stardust are wonderful at teaching healthy boundaries, trust, and keeping oneself safe.

nova

Nova was born at the ranch to their mama Stardust on April 24th, 2019. She is the oldest of our baby goats that were born in 2019 here at Dreamcatcher™.

When she was younger, she was a lot like her mother, often approaching people with caution as she was still learning how to trust and build confidence. However, over the years her confidence has blossomed and she now likes to socialize with people, keeping her distance until she feels comfortable and safe with them.

Nova spends a lot of time with her mother, they are the smallest of the herd, making them exceptional escape artists! We love our little "Houdini" goats and get a good chuckle when we see them squeezing their way through a small fence opening which is quite impressive to say the least.

Nova has been an excellent role model for her mother by helping her gain the courage to trust others and to let her guard down when it's safe to do so. These lessons are transferred into her work with people by reassuring their safety and helping them to build confidence, trust, and social skills.

orion

Orion was born at the ranch to his mama Luna on May 6th, 2019. He is the middle child of our baby goats that were born in 2019 here at Dreamcatcher™.

Orion loves people and will compete with Ollie for your affection. Since they are both close in age and the only two males of the herd, they often act like brothers where they play together and challenge each other. They are super fun to watch on the teeter totter and playground equipment!

Orion is gentle, sweet, and likes to be friends with everyone. He is known to follow you around the pen looking for treats or reaching out his hoof for toe rubs! He gives nose kisses and has a very close relationship with his mother and will often stay nearby to provide protection and keep her company.

His caring and friendly nature makes him a favorite among those he works with. He teaches people about friendship, affection, and gentleness.

So many Chickens!

Our amazing and long-term administrative staff Jessica travelled to Ponoka, Alberta and then Okotoks approximately 4 years ago to purchase a bunch of extraordinary and really cool chickens! Through the years, Jess, who is an extraordinarily knowledgeable person about chickens, has been arranging some cool breeding patterns and now all the rest of the chickens you meet at Dreamcatcher™ were hatched here and are the offspring of these beautiful exotic breeds.

Some of the older Dreamcatcher™ chickens were bought from a local auction, but most of them were born and raised here in our coop! Most of our chickens are very friendly and love to meet new people. Some areas of therapy they help with are, confidence building, housekeeping, nurturing, parenting styles, abandonment and adoption. They are wonderful therapists and have helped many to overcome their life issues.

ninja

Ninja was without a home or family to love and cherish her before joining us at Dreamcatcher™. She was rescued by the Barrhead Humane Society as someone had dropped her off in Parkland County. The story goes that she was with 9 kittens when they found her, and she was only 9 months old.

At the same time, Dreamcatcher™ was asked to choose and prepare a cat for a treatment facility for children and youth and as we had a connection to the Barrhead Humane Society, the deal fell through, and the facility no longer wanted the cat which is how Dreamcatcher™ became her forever home. Ninja works alongside her family at Dreamcatcher™ and now helps people to find their way to a happier life.

She is a very curious and caring cat that loves to wander her territory and see where the action is. You will see her casually roaming the property, meeting new people, checking up on the animals, and saying hello to everyone in the office, on the land, and even in visitors’ cars! Her presence is like a breath of fresh air as we all love and care for her deeply. Ninja loves to wander but will go straight to the treats when they become available!

She is deeply loved and valued here at Dreamcatcher™ and we are so happy that she has found her home here with Eileen and Dreamcatcher™. We would not be the same without Ninja as she is a big part of what keeps us whole.

Randy

Randy is an English Labrador Retriever who is owned by one of our therapists, Kaytlyn Morris. She got him in 2022 as a puppy and he is currently training to become a certified therapy dog. He has completed his “Puppy Kindergarten”, “Puppy Elementary”, “Career Canines”, and all his “Prepare Your Dog” classes at Dreamcatcher™!

Randy is patient and gentle. He can bring a calm presence during his indoor sessions, but can also be active, playful, and adventurous when working outside. He enjoys finding sticks to play with and running around the pond. When he isn’t in session, he loves playing with his buddy, Fable, going for walks, eating treats, and laying in his cozy bed!

He has worked with many clients who struggle with anxiety, trauma, grief and loss and he generally works best with clients ages 10 or over. Randy can help people notice when they may need to self-regulate by teaching them to understand how he is feeling by reading his body language or by modeling his own dysregulation when he gets excited too. His therapeutic specialty is assisting clients with emotional regulation, communication, and boundaries. He can also help people develop confidence and assertiveness, and social and relational skills.

Want to meet our furry critters? Check out how to book a meet and greet with them below!

Meet and Greet