The Art Station opened its doors in 2003 to provide art therapy for healing and growth. Never have our services been more needed than now. Mental health needs in our community have significantly escalated due to the pandemic and economic challenges. Anxiety, depression, trauma, suicidal ideation, family conflicts, behavioral issues, and grief/loss can interfere with school/education, hamper job performance, disrupt family relationships, compromise healthy behaviors, prevent emotional regulation, and block social development/engagement.
Art Therapy is especially effective at helping individuals break through tangled emotions and invisible wounds to find healing and growth despite difficult life challenges. The Art Station is a rare resource as a community-based nonprofit in North Texas providing art therapy for children, teens, and adults. Our therapists are specialized counselors with dual master-level education, training and licensing in both psychology/counseling and art therapy. Their unique professional expertise in art therapy can frequently help clients make breakthroughs when other approaches haven’t been effective. The emphasis of art therapy is on the therapeutic process of making art, rather than the finished art product. Working with a skilled art therapist, our clients create a visual language, which is helpful when when words are too difficult or painful. Creating a physical piece of art allows you to emotionally distance yourself somewhat from the life problem and see the situation from a different perspective. The art therapist holds a safe place and guides the process, which provides clarity, encourages problem- solving, enhances self-esteem and builds confidence.
Each year we work with thousands of individuals in our building as well as partnering with other organizations to provide art therapy at their program sites. Since opening our doors almost 20 years ago, we have served more than 40,349 clients. In addition to individual, family, and group therapy sessions, we also create and provide special programs such as Teachers’ Self-Care Workshops and Support Groups and our Veterans Art Therapy Groups.
Our Needs
The vision of Jane Avila when she founded The Art Station in 2003 was to introduce art therapy to the Tarrant County community and make it available to everyone. As a community-based nonprofit, The Art Station remains dedicated to providing art therapy to the most vulnerable and under-resourced individuals in our community. We need your support to provide “no cost” or “low cost” art therapy to help individuals and families break through barriers to heal, grow, and live better lives. Your donation will fund the cost of these breakthrough art therapy sessions.