Guided Autobiography is a semi-structured process that helps people get started writing and sharing meaningful stories about their lives. This process was developed by renowned scholar Dr. James Birren, one of the founders of the field of gerontology, who worked with many groups over the years to refine the process. Today there are hundreds of individuals facilitating GAB groups all over the world. Charity received her certification in 2019 from the Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies.

GAB was designed to help people who may not have much experience with writing, or who may otherwise be having trouble getting started. The discussions, exercises, and assignments help participants get started prioritizing and recording stories that matter to them. Each session, participants read their stories to one another and receive supportive and encouraging feedback. The sharing often triggers memories for others in the group, and can also lead to meaningful connections between group members.

We recommend against people in the same family groups taking classes together, due to the potential for self-censorship or “recollection-correction”. However, we encourage you to share your writings with your loved ones outside of class if you are comfortable doing so.