Women’s Addiction Treatment Staff

Renee Capela – Owner and CEO of Tranquil Palms

Renee Capela, Owner and CEO of Tranquil Palms, brings a strong background in administration and operations to the leadership of the organization. With years of experience managing administrative functions within healthcare settings, she has successfully guided the operational and strategic development of Tranquil Palms. Renee’s expertise in management, administration, and operations is a driving force behind the continued growth and success of the program.

Renee’s vision for Tranquil Palms centers on creating a positive, supportive culture where staff feel valued and appreciated. She believes that when the team is happy and engaged, they are able to provide the highest quality of care to clients. This commitment to fostering a fulfilling work environment is fundamental to her approach, ensuring that Tranquil Palms remains a safe, empowering space for women to achieve lasting sobriety and build fulfilling, prosperous lives.

Dr. Craig Kaiser

Dr. Kaiser attended medical school at Ohio University-Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. After graduating in 1993, he completed a medicine residency with the Cleveland Clinic Health Systems-Meridia South Pointe.

After practicing for several years, he returned to complete another residency in Psychiatry at the University of Arizona Medical Center, completing his training in 2004. It is there that he rotated and studied with Sierra Tucson Residential Treatment Center for Drug and Alcohol addiction. This is where his interest in addiction medicine began. He worked for governmental agencies for the better part of his career in mental health, addiction and forensics work until he retired in 2018. He now devotes his practice of medicine to community mental health and addiction medicine treatment centers.

Ashley Hinesley, BA, CADC II – Program Director of Tranquil Palms

Ashley is a highly valued member of the Tranquil Palms team, holding over 12 years of experience in the healthcare field. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration and is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree. For the past six years, Ashley has served as Program Director, overseeing the staff and clinical team to ensure exceptional standards of care and program effectiveness.

In her role, Ashley conducts comprehensive client assessments, provides individual counseling, facilitates therapeutic groups, and manages intake and discharge planning with a focus on smooth client transitions. Her expertise extends to collaboration with families and other treatment providers, maintaining clear communication channels to support optimal care outcomes. Ashley’s strengths lie in intake assessments, client care, intervention protocols, and coordinating with external providers to ensure our clients receive the highest quality of care. Her dedication and leadership help create a supportive, structured environment that is vital for client recovery and well-being.

Gregory Pospisil, LMFT, CSAT, CDWF – Clinical Director

Gregory Pospisil is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT). He is EMDR trained and currently working toward his certification.

Gregory has been a primary therapist at treatment centers in Los Angeles and Palm Springs since 2008 where he gained experience working with male and female sex and love addicts and their partners. He has helped individuals and couples struggling with relational and intimacy challenges as well as mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Gregory studied with Dr. Brené Brown and her team and became trained in The Daring Way©. He currently helps clients develop and live a wholehearted lifestyle as they address vulnerability and shame, empathy, compassion, and connection.

Gregory is very proud to be a member of the team at Tranquil Palms.

Scott Russel, DO

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."

Christina Riemer, LMFT – Therapist

Christina Riemer is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. She currently supervises a multidimensional staff who provide care for consumers of Behavioral Health Services. She has worked as an Adult Clinician and Children’s Clinician. While attending California State University San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus, earning a degree in Psychology, she worked in Substance Abuse, providing intake counseling. In 2009, she earned a Masters Degree in Clinical Counseling Psychology at California State University, San Bernardino.

Mark Accomando – Spiritual Guidance Counselor

Mark is the founder of Evoke Peace Now, a spiritual education organization that shares positive and practical spiritual practices in conjunction with the traditional 12 Step recovery program. His goal is to assist clients with aligning with peace and wholeness. He shares the effective use of spiritual tools like daily peace practices, meditation, and affirmations. Mark has extensive experience working with clients in early recovery and in all stages of treatment. He even started a local AA 12 Step meditation meeting based on the 11th step. Mark’s mission is to share practical and interesting tools to help clients live a confident, grounded and successful sober life.

Nicole Savage, CADC II – Counselor

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).

Laura Carney - Utilization Review / Case Manager III

Laura Carney is a dedicated professional with a deep passion for supporting women in recovery. A Southern California native, Laura earned her degree in Substance Abuse Counseling, with a focus on empowering individuals to overcome addiction and heal from past traumas. In 2011, she expanded her expertise by obtaining a certificate in Medical Billing, enhancing her diverse skill set. Laura’s personal commitment to sobriety fuels her work, as she strives to help others achieve a successful, fulfilling recovery journey. Her compassionate approach and understanding make her a vital asset to our team and an inspiring mentor to those she serves.

Women's Addiction Treatment Staff

Administrative Staff

Clinical Staff

Dr. Craig Kaiser