Put simply, the Guided Autobiography process helps people to recall, organize, write about, and share meaningful parts of their life.

What happens in a guided autobiography workshop?

In a supportive group setting, a trained instructor uses stimulating exercises and questions to spark creativity and support memory recall. Between classes participants write a short story about their experience of themes like turning points in life, family influences, health, and work. They then bring those two-page stories to share aloud with others in a small group in the next session. Participants share only what they are comfortable sharing, and all must agree to keep confidential the stories they hear.

Through remembering, reflecting, writing and sharing, participants not only get a start on their legacy stories but also gain insights and benefits. GAB provides opportunities for personal growth, community, validation and learning. 

The sessions last roughly two hours and run four to six weeks, although the number of sessions may be adapted according to need. 

Who Benefits?

Although originally designed with an older adult population in mind, the approach has benefits across a range of age groups, and for a variety of needs. It’s particularly helpful for people in a time of transition when one is leaving behind something familiar, perhaps essential to self-identity, and unsure which direction to pursue next. Populations that have benefited from GAB include people who are retiring, individuals recovering from addictions, or heart stroke survivors, adult adoptees, and second-generation Holocaust survivors.

GAB is a natural fit for people seeking to leave a legacy for family, and this is the usual reason people sign up for the sessions. But, although not intended as therapy, it’s often therapeutic--a powerful form of life review with group support that contributes to a greater sense of self-identity and self-esteem. 

No writing experience is necessary. While learning about writing craft is offered, and participants gain writing skills, GAB is mostly about capturing memories, writing from the heart about things that matter, sharing what you can in an atmosphere of trust, and benefitting from being part of a group that listens well. 

Because GAB is based on the premise that learning from the things that have shaped your life is essential to moving forward, it can be a powerful tool for those leaving behind something familiar and unsure which direction to pursue next.

 A Typical Workshop

In the first hour, the instructor leads the class in a discussion of the week’s theme, plus a few fun and easy exercises to stimulate memories and creativity.  GAB includes activities that involve drawing, mind-mapping, life graphs, and “show and tell.” All are designed to support writing craft, memories, and a greater understanding of self. Each theme comes with a list of questions designed to trigger memories.

In the second hour, the class breaks into small groups of no more than six people to share what they have written about the last week’s theme. Sharing stories in a group provides validation for those reading and triggers memories for those who listen.  Photographs and other memorabilia are encouraged.

Background

The guided autobiography method was first developed in the 1970s at the University of Southern California (USC) by Dr. James Birren, a founding scholar in the field of gerontology and credited with establishing much of the framework of modern gerontological theory. Grounded in life review and reminiscence, guided autobiography emerged in educational and research activities to explore issues shaping adult development. But Birren believed strongly in the power of this approach, not only for its obvious legacy benefits, but also for the therapeutic effects witnessed in several studies. Over the years, it has evolved into a dynamic, flexible format used in lifelong learning, in counseling and psychotherapy, and for recording legacy life stories.

Although originally designed with an older adult population in mind, the approach is now used across all adult groups and for a variety of needs. While most frequently used by people who want to write and/or leave a legacy of their stories, GAB is also been found to be a useful way to find meaning and direction by people experiencing a time of transition in their lives. This includes people who are retiring, stroke survivors, and people re-entering society after a period of incarceration.