Welcome to The Art Station

Art Station Founder Jane Avila is a licensed clinical social worker with over 15 years of experience helping children and adults in a variety of mental health settings. She received her social work degree from the University of Texas at Arlington and her art therapy training from the Art therapy Institute in Dallas. Prior to opening the Art Station Jane worked for 8 years as a child and family therapist at Cook Children's Medical Center. She has served on the boards of the Tarrant County Mental Health Association, All Church Home for Children, Youth for Tomorrow, and the Depression Connection Team. She continues to volunteer in the community and speaks regularly about the benefits of Art therapy.

Clinical Director Heidi Tournoux-Hanshaw is a graduate of Antioch University in Seattle where she earned master’s degrees in both family therapy and art therapy. She received her undergraduate training in Art and Psychology from Central Washington University.

In the past, she worked with children in child development and Montessori school settings as well as conducted art therapy support groups for teens receiving treatment for substance abuse. She is an active member of the North Texas Art Therapy Association and serves as its President-Elect.

Executive Director Jennifer Pappe Johnson received her master’s degree in Psychology with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy from Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio and is a licensed supervisor. She is also a graduate of Texas Christian University and has worked over the past 7 years with adults in a day hospital setting, adolescents in therapeutic group homes, and teens with severe emotional diagnoses. Most recently she spent the past 3 years directing a non-profit therapy program for adolescents with substance abuse issues.

Therapist Lisa Barber is a graduate of the University of North Texas where she earned her masters degree in counseling with a concentration in Play Therapy. She also received her undergraduate training at UNT. Lisa brings a strong background in play and activity therapy with children.

Therapist Christina Chou is a graduate of the University of Connecticut where she earned her masters degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy and is currently working toward licensure. She received her undergraduate training in from the University of Texas in Austin. Prior to joining The Art Station, Christina worked with special education students as a behavior interventionist, often using art and other experiential interventions.

Jen is a graduate of Texas State University in San Marcos where she earned her masters degree in counseling with a concentration in Marriage and Family Therapy. She received her undergraduate training in social work from the University of Texas in Austin. In the past she has worked with children and their families through programs such as Communities In Schools and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She brings a strong background in theater and music to The Art Station and has a professional interest in the use of psychodrama and textile interventions in therapy.

Art therapist Erin Morgan is a graduate of Notre Dame de Namur University where she earned her masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy with a specialization in Art Therapy. She received her undergraduate degree from Texas Christian University.

Therapist Fran Seymore has nearly 30 years of experience in a variety of mental health settings. Prior to joining The Art Station, she worked with adults diagnosed with cancer, meeting their psychological and emotional needs. Fran frequently uses art, hypnosis, and emotional freedom technique as interventions for clients dealing with chronic illnesses.

Van Gogh, Professional Compassionate Kitty

Van Gogh joined the Art Station staff soon after building renovations were completed in 2004. He was born and raised in the Fort Worth South Side neighborhood, and received his education through the Art Station's on-the-job training program with classes held on the back porch. Van Gogh's approach to achieving the emotional healing of the Art Station's clients includes rubbing legs, lap warming, and table sitting. He has been known to take his sessions out to the car, as he enjoys observing his clients engage in their environment from the perspective of the car roof. Van Gogh is so dedicated to his people that he meets them in the parking lot, and walks them to the back door. He has recently started an elite training program for select young Compassionate Kitties who have the passion to assist in the healing of Art Station clients.

Georgia, Professional Compassionate Kitty- Apprentice

The Art Station welcomed its first Compassionate Kitty Apprentice! Georgia came to the Art Station during the summer of 2008 in order to learn about what it takes to work with the kids and adults that utilize the Art Station's therapeutic services. Georgia has been working on increasing her comfort level of different people who gently stroke her cute little head. Georgia has successfully mastered the task of playing with string blowing in the wind. Once she finishes the Apprenticeship program, Georgia will begin working with select clients that she feels need her services the most, and will continue to observe the work of Van Gogh in the garden setting.