On this month's cover is a painting by artist Janis Wolf, one of the original participants in the program Studio E, which blends art therapy and health community for people living with epilepsy. Started by the Chicago chapter of the Epilepsy Foundation in 2011, Studio E is now available in over 50 U.S. cities and was the subject of a recent study suggesting that art therapy increases self-esteem in patients with epilepsy (presented at the 2014 meeting of the American Epilepsy Society).
Concerning her cover art, Wolf says that this piece, with its clock motif, and Studio E's program allowed her, as a patient and an artist, to say, "Please give me a moment, because I've lost moments." She says that Studio E brings her to a place where she can achieve freedom through her art. Participants in the program create sculpture, paintings, and drawings under the guidance of professional art therapists who specialize in epilepsy. And through its weekly three-hour sessions, the program offers participants a way to find community and comfort, simply by providing a space for them to share their stories and struggles.
To learn more about epilepsy-which affects more than 65 million people worldwide-read this month's CE article, the first in a two-part series, "Epilepsy Update, Part 1: Refining Our Understanding of a Complex Disease." For more about Studio E, visit the Epilepsy Foundation's Web site at http://www.epilepsychicago.org/programs-services/for-adults/studio-e.-Amanda Anderson, BSN, RN, CCRN