Meet our team

Renee Capela founded Tranquil Palms with a clear mission: to create a healing environment where mature women feel truly seen, supported, and respected. With years of experience in healthcare leadership, Renee understands what families hope for when they entrust a loved one to treatment — safety, compassion, and a team that genuinely cares.

Her leadership philosophy is simple yet powerful: build a culture where staff feel valued and purposeful, and clients will always receive the highest level of care. Renee’s vision shapes every corner of Tranquil Palms.

Dr. Kaiser brings decades of clinical experience and a grounded, heart-centered approach to women’s recovery. A graduate of Ohio University’s Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, his career includes extensive work in governmental mental health programs, addiction medicine, and community treatment.

At Tranquil Palms, Dr. Kaiser specializes in supporting women with co-occurring emotional or mental health needs, helping each client navigate recovery with clarity, compassion, and evidence-based care. His calm presence and deep understanding make him a trusted guide during one of life’s most vulnerable moments.

With more than 12 years of experience in behavioral health and addiction treatment, Ashley oversees the day-to-day clinical experience at Tranquil Palms. She conducts assessments, coordinates treatment planning, and supports clients through each phase of their journey.

Ashley is known for her steady leadership and her ability to make each woman feel grounded from the moment she arrives. Her work ensures that every client receives personalized, thoughtful, and compassionate care.

When Dr. Scott Russell’s dad asked him, at a very early age, the usual “What do you want to be when you grow up?” question, the reply was “I don’t just want a job – I want to do something that helps people.” We’re going to go out on a limb here and guess that Mr. Russell was a very proud papa.

Flash forward… after many years of education… and most of Dr. Russell’s patients would probably agree that he continues to meet that goal of helping people every day. Compassion is just one of the ways he bonds with his patients because they also often comment on his great sense of humor as well.

”I feel I’m here to help guide and encourage my patients, rather than tell them what to do,” says Dr. Russell. “Nothing makes me feel better than putting together a care plan with the active participation of a patient… and then seeing that patient begin to feel better and happier.”

Nicole is a counselor who has over 9 years of experience working in residential settings for underserved pregnant and parenting women with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders. She has helped many clients successfully reenter into society and provides support with daily living, individual and group counseling and crisis intervention.

Nicole is proficient in implementing evidence-based practices such as Thinking for a Change, Matrix: Relapse Prevention Program, Hazelden’s Living in Balance Program, and Seeking Safety for clients with PTSD and substance abuse disorders in group settings. She also has expertise in delivering 12 Core Functions, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing to clients.

Additionally, Nicole is efficient in administering psychological assessments such as Addiction Scale Index (ASI) and Women’s Risk Needs Assessment (WRNA).