—COLORADO CENTER FOR PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT LLC—

Psychotherapy services for adolescents & adults

Psychotherapist Jessica Russell has opened an office in Conifer specializing in adolescents and adults.

There are many psychotherapy offices in Colorado but they don’t all offer the same services. “One size does not fit all,” explained Jessica Russell, MA, LPP, CFI, owner of Colorado Center for Personal Development LLC.

With an office in Parker and a newly opened practice in Conifer, where she resides, her center offers testing, assessment, counseling services and more for treatment of mental and emotional matters.

Jessica works with adolescents and adults, rather than couples, in individual or group therapy sessions. Her approach to mental health care follows a therapeutic orientation that integrates multiple modalities into her practice.

So what really sets her services apart from others? Jessica believes that all her clients are unique, which is why therapy techniques are always tailored to meet specific client needs.

COCPD works with some insurance plans but also maintains a sliding-scale rate based on income for clients paying for therapy out-of-pocket. “Some clients can move quickly through their issues while others find that they need therapy for longer periods of time. When a client sees a therapist on his/her own terms and not under a managed care setting, there is no cap on the number of sessions that can be scheduled,” she said.

Jessica holds an M.A. in counseling from Regis University and a B.S. in business from the University of Upper Iowa. Her licenses and certifications include LPP, Provisional Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Systemic Sandplay Therapist.

Jessica volunteers at Mount Evans Hospice in the area of her passion, grief and loss counseling. Her business background provides credentials for career assessment work, and she has over 3,000 training hours to help with addictions. Because of her extensive legal background she affiliates with Excelsior Youth Center (for girls) in Aurora. As a certified child and family investigator, Jessica works with the courts in the counties of Jefferson, Park and Douglas to maximize the interests of children in divorce actions.

“At Colorado Center for Personal Development appointments are set up to accommodate our clients’ working or personal schedules. Our therapists believe that building client trust and respecting confidentiality are the key components to establishing and maintaining effective client/therapist relationships,” said Jessica. 

Colorado Center for Personal Development, LLC is located inside Denver Wellness Center, 25797 Conifer Road, #C210. Jessica Russell works in Parker on Thursday and Saturday. She accepts appointments at the Aspen Park office Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays. For information on Sandplay Therapy and all her services, visit www.cocpd.com or  at 303-886-5556.

Aquariums are complete ecosystems. Call Micaine for set up and maintenance.

Enjoy the magic & wonder

of a healthy aquarium

Micaine Seeley is the proud owner of Coral Sea Aquatics, a business that installs custom fish aquariums in homes or businesses. He has been working in the aquarium industry for 10 years now. At the age of 14, Micaine began his career working for the reputable saltwater-only aquarium store, Reef Gallery. Since then, he has worked at four aquarium shops.

His interest in aquariums began with his seventh-grade science fair project about oceans. After winning first place the year before, he was determined to repeat it! He thought there would be no better project than showing how the ocean could be contained within an aquarium. Unfortunately, he was so focused on his new hobby (or, rather, obsession/passion), that the science fair took a back seat. Needless to say, he did not do so well that year. He thinks that the purpose of the fair in his life was not to win but to show him his love of saltwater creatures.

The complicated curriculum of his grade school, St. Pious, and his high school, Mullen, turned from a chore into an opportunity. Chemistry classes became the most beneficial for him.  He claims that success with an aquarium, especially a saltwater aquarium, is almost entirely based on the chemistry of the water.

During his short stay at Rangeley College, he was asked to teach a class on Housed Marine Ecosystems in his marine biology program. He was the youngest student at that time to be asked to do so.

At 14, Micaine’s first aquarium was a 140-gallon saltwater predator aquarium. It took less than a year before he added a 75-gallon reef aquarium. He hasn’t owned anything but reef aquaria since!

The attraction of a reef aquarium for Micaine is how interconnected it is. Whether it’s the sand, rock, fish or coral; each part has a direct and distinct impact on the whole system.

Micaine looks at each aquarium as a complete ecosystem and attributes this perspective to his success with them. By combining the latest and greatest aquarium products and technology, chemistry and experience, he is able to consistently create beautiful aquariums in homes and businesses.

Micaine knows how you could, for example, take a coral that has turned brown in an aquarium and, by controlling its environment, bring it back to the beautiful bright blue, purple and green colors.

Micaine has begun branching out to incorporate other similar complete environments, like aquaponics, where you can grow edible fruits and vegetables by providing them with the proper nutrients produced by freshwater fish. This branching out allows Micaine to discover and apply new and useful information to his saltwater aquarium business.

Coral Sea Aquatics is located in the Denver area and services the foothills. Call 720-226-6859 for a free consultation, to set up a new system or to maintain an existing aquarium.

—EVERGREEN CONIFER PEDIATRICS—

Dr. Kenneth Kutalek with pediatric patients Jordan & Kaylyn Roe. Evergreen Conifer Pediatrics is committed to providing care to all children, regardless of your income or insurance coverage.

Quality, accessible healthcare for your child

Here’s a surprising fact: While most parents are faithful about scheduling regular medical check ups for their newborns and toddlers, this vigilance tends to disappear once their child is around 5 or so.

Not a good idea if you believe an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

Dr. Kenneth Kutalek, co-founder of Evergreen Conifer Pediatrics, explained why a proactive approach to your child’s health is best: “Identifying a condition in its earliest stages can avoid the need for more costly treatments or even surgery down the road.

“For example,” he continued, “here in the mountains we see quite a few asthma and mold allergy problems, and spotting these ailments early on can make an enormous difference in your child’s energy level and school performance.”

This certainly sounds like sensible advice, but why then is there still a sizable number of mountain families who’ve tapered off on regular visits to the pediatrician?

What else: insurance. Or rather, lack thereof.

If this is a concern for your own family, you’ll be pleased to learn that Evergreen Conifer Pediatrics is committed to providing care to all children, regardless of your income or insurance coverage.

At both the Evergreen and Conifer locations, the practice accepts just about any insurance plan, Medicaid and Colorado Health Plan Plus (CHP+). A third clinic at the Mountain Resource Center in Conifer provides check ups, vaccines and other child health care services at reduced rates.

In other words, in today’s age of overhead costs for physicians, mostly to process insurance company claims, Evergreen Conifer Pediatrics still firmly adheres to a “patients first” philosophy.

With two pediatricians, a pediatric nurse practitioner and a physician assistant, Evergreen Conifer Pediatrics is just the right size to establish a real relationship with each patient they serve. Your child’s visit is never rushed or impersonal and neither are the answers to your questions.

That’s just one reason why so many of Evergreen Conifer Pediatrics’ patients have literally grown up under the practice’s care, from birth to age 21.

Dr. Kutalek concluded, “Ultimately, we strive to be a trusted go-to source for just about any concern parents may have regarding their child, even for concerns that aren’t strictly medical.”

With decades of experience, Evergreen Conifer Pediatrics can help parents—and their children—find the guidance they need.

To schedule an appointment, call 303-674-6671 (Evergreen) or 303-838-7337 (Conifer). You can reach the Mountain Resource Center clinic at 303-838-8035. 

—GREEN SCOUTS—

Join Green Scouts Thursday, Aug. 5, for an Open House at the Church of Transfiguration on Highway 74. The event begins with a BBQ at 6 pm. Green Scouts will discuss the Community Gardens. Kids activities provided; RSVP at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.green-scouts.org.

Green Scouts plan Evergreen Community Gardens

Founded by Evergreen resident Megan Mitchell, Green Scouts is the newest nonprofit organization specifically aimed at the young people of our mountain community. Focused on healthy living and environmental stewardship, Green Scouts teaches youth how to live healthy lives and become environmental leaders.

“Our mission centers around two overall goals—awareness and action,” said Megan. “Green Scouts empowers youth to take action and improve their health, as well as the health of their families, communities and the world. At the same time, we are educating young people about the importance of ‘going green’.”

Aimed at youth ages 5 to 18, Green Scouts teaches members about protecting the Earth’s natural resources—such as air, water and animals—from pollutants to help ensure that resources will remain available for future generations. Members also learn how their bodies are affected by everyday substances and environmental contaminants and how they can better protect themselves and their families.

Green Scouts plans to provide “green” solutions, including a chemical-free personal care line of shampoos, sunscreens, body washes and more. In addition, members are currently working to finalize plans for a community garden, in collaboration with Evergreen Parks and Recreation District, The Evergreen Alliance for Sustainability (EAS+Y) and Global Children’s Garden. If approved, this project will provide individual plots for area residents to garden. The Community Gardens will be located at Buchanan Park and be maintained by Green Scouts members.

“Green Scouts’ work is done in the true spirit of community, and projects like the gardens are essential to the ongoing development of Evergreen,” Megan said. “As an organization, we aim to connect with others and work toward promoting good health and protecting the Earth, while also respecting the individuality of everyone involved.”

Green Scouts will be campaigning for a Pepsi Refresh Grant starting Aug. 1. Funds from the grant will be used to develop the Community Gardens, as well as a formal curriculum for Green Scouts.

Join Green Scouts Thursday, Aug. 5, for an Open House at the Church of Transfiguration on Highway 74. The event begins with a BBQ at 6 pm. Green Scouts will discuss the Community Gardens. Kids activities provided; RSVP at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit www.green-scouts.org.

Green Scouts will be forming “branches” (troops) this fall in the Evergreen area. Each branch will meet weekly after school and in the evenings to discuss environmental issues and prepare projects to better the community through environmental stewardship and healthy living.

For more information or to become a member or volunteer, visit www.green-scouts.org or contact Megan at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .