“Storytelling is healing. As we reveal ourselves in story, we become aware of the continuing core of our lives under the fragmented surface of our experience. We become aware of the multifaceted, multi-chaptered ‘I’ who is the storyteller. We can trace out the paradoxical and even contradictory versions of ourselves that we create for different occasions, different audiences… Most important, as we become aware of ourselves as storytellers, we realized that what we understand and imagine about ourselves is a story. And when we know all this, we can use our stories to heal and make ourselves whole.”
—Susan Wittig Albert, Writing From Life
What is Guided Autobiography? Let’s begin with its description from the Guided Autobiography website:
“Guided Autobiography (GAB) has been researched and developed by Dr. James Birren over the past 40 years as a method for helping people document their life stories. Guided by a trained instructor, participants are led through themes and priming questions that evoke memories of events once known but filed away and seemingly forgotten. Each participant writes a two-page story on a particular theme each week, brings the story to class and reads it to a small group of receptive classmates. Writing and sharing life stories with others is an ideal way to find new meaning in life and to put life events into perspective. While connecting with one another on their journeys of self-discovery, participants feel enlivened by the group experience and gain a greater appreciation of their own lives and of the lives of others. GAB can be a powerful catalyst for improved self-esteem, self-confidence and communication within communities and within families.
Some of the benefits of GAB include:
- Increased self-acceptance
- Decreased anxiety and tension
- Increased energy and vigor
- Increased positive view of others
- A feeling of connectedness and friendship
James Birren created GAB in the mid 1970s while he was the founding dean of the Davis School of Gerontology at the University of Southern California (USC). Over the ensuing years, he has written three books on GAB and conducted numerous research projects into the impact of GAB, all the while traveling worldwide to present and expand GAB.”
Copyright The Birren Center, Guided Autobiography
Guided autobiography centers on thematic journaling, with participants writing 800-1000 words each week on a selected theme (for the 6-week course). Courses and condensed workshops include handouts, thought- and conversation-generating ideas and suggestions, ice breakers, and the pleasures of bonding with the group members while we travel this path together.
The journey toward ourselves begins with a sentence. We are the ‘I’ in storytelling.
Participants will receive the course or workshop outline (PowerPoint), complimentary folder, yellow writing pad, and pen.
Mark McNease, Certified Guided Autobiography Instructor
Mark @ YourWritePath. com