The Power of Your Other Hand: A Course in Channeling the Inner Wisdom of the Right Brain [Paperback]

Lucia Capacchione (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1988

The vast, untapped potential of the brain's little used right hemisphere can be successfully channeled into a powerful resource. "Other hand" exercises and experiments can help heal, break addictions, and unlock creativity. Fourth printing in less than one year. (Philosophy/Metaphysics)

Product Details

• Paperback: 196 pages
• Publisher: Newcastle Pub Co Inc (August 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878771301
• ISBN-13: 978-0878771301
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,608,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lucia Capacchione, Ph.D., A.T.R., R.E.A.T., www.luciac.com


I am a Registered Art Therapist, Expressive Arts Therapist, workshop leader and best-selling author of 15 books. My innovative methods spark and nurture creativity in all areas of life. I originated:

* The Creative Journal Method, blending writing with drawing (The Creative Journal series of books for kids, teens, adults)
* Healing through writing and drawing with the non-dominant hand (The Power of Your Other Hand and The Art of Emotional Healing)
* The Visioning® process of life design through collage and journaling (Visioning)
* Inner Child/Inner Family healing through the expressive arts (Recovery of Your Inner Child)

I was originally a professional artist and Montessori-trained child development specialist, one of the first Head Start directors in the U.S. After successful careers in both art and education, I stumbled onto the healing power of art and of journaling with my non-dominant hand while struggling with a mysterious life-threatening illness. Journaling through drawing and writing with both hands opened my right hemisphere. It gave my emotions a means of full expression, helped me remember and work with dreams, develop my intuition and connect both hemispheres of my brain. My Creative Journal opened new worlds to me (internally and externally) and it paid huge dividends in terms of my health. My full recovery without medication led to a new career as an art therapist.

Methods which I developed for my own healing and refined in private practice with others are now being used worldwide for treating addictions, trauma, and childhood abuse. Many of my books are used as texts in courses on therapy, psychology, writing, art, career development and applied creativity. My work is being used in mental health and recovery programs, medical centers, school systems (kindergarten through college), prisons, health and healing programs, spiritual retreat centers, business, and industry. I have trained professionals word-wide in the Creative Journal Expressive Arts Certification Training, and consulted for corporations, community groups and schools throughout the U.S., Canada, Italy, the UK, Australia and Mexico.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An adventure into your intuitive mind., February 8, 2001

By 

Ruth Henriquez Lyon (Duluth, Minnesota USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Power of Your Other Hand: A Course in Channeling the Inner Wisdom of the Right Brain (Paperback)

The first night I had this book I began writing with my left hand, even though I really thought I couldn't do it. Not only was I able to do it, but it opened up a new world to me. The act of writing--which is usually dominated by the left, logical brain--suddenly became more intuitive, freer, and much more of an adventure. The blank page was no longer a threat or obstacle to overcome, but an invitation for my inner voice to speak.

The next of the book's exercises which I took up was mirror-writing with the left hand-that is, writing so that the text is legible when held in front of a mirror. It really didn't take that long to learn, and the results have been a very powerful unlocking of insights, memories, dreams, and creative thoughts. Ms. Capacchione mentions that Leonardo da Vinci mirror-wrote his journals, probably with his "other" hand, and I can certainly attest to the fact that it opens up new avenues of instinct, imagination, and intuition to anyone who wants to try it.

This book is not long and is easy to work with. The first chapter includes an interesting history of humans' cultural preference for the the right hand, along with a good introduction to right/left brain theory. All the exercises can easily be tailored to your own specific needs. I do agree with Ms. Capacchione that there is much healing and personal growth to be gained by silencing the critical left-brain using your non-dominant hand-voices will emerge on the page which you never knew you had living within yourself. I recommend this book for writers, artists, metaphysicians, scientists, people recovering from abuse, people facing dread diseases, to name only a few of the possible beneficiaries. A wonderful, eye (and brain)-opening book.

46 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simply put, a good book, February 21, 2003

By 

"danceuponamoonbeam" (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of Your Other Hand: A Course in Channeling the Inner Wisdom of the Right Brain (Paperback)

I picked up this book while going through a phase. I was trying to tap into my more artistic side which had been easy for me up until about three years ago, with real world concerns pressing in and working at a job that didn't spark my creativity I found it harder and harder to distinguish what I really wanted to do compared to what I thought I should do. This book I was hoping would help-and it did. It has many, many exercises to help you get more in touch with your more spontaneous, child like side. Many of these exercises were uncomfortable for me at first for me because they involved giving up the control I held so rigidly to.In fact I found it very hard because giving up control would mean I would have to trust in myself. I didn't know how to flow anymore and this book is all about flow. Some of the exercises involve drawing pictures with your non-dominant hand and others involve getting in touch with different parts of yourself you might have left behind for some reason or another. I find Lucia Cappachione an author who's style is very warm and the personal stories she tells in the book set her apart from self help guru's who just preach and preach and give nothing of themselve's in turn. This book is never boring and is like a kid's activity book for adults.

45 of 48 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Power of Your Other Hand", January 30, 2000

By 

S. Forrester http://www.SuccessForYou.net - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Power of Your Other Hand: A Course in Channeling the Inner Wisdom of the Right Brain (Paperback)

This is a neat little book that helps you tap into your spontaneous, creative, expressive side. Capaccione shows how we usually are dominated by rationality, logic, straight-lined thinking, and how we neglect the wise, intuitive, spontaneous parts of us. By asking us to do writing exercises with our "other" hand, she helps us get in touch with our inner child, with excitedness, a sense of discovery. Doing the exercises (and they are small, no big tasks at all) can be quite eye-opening - and thoroughly refreshing for your soul.