What is Guided Autobiography?
Guided Autobiography (GAB) is a form of writing practice with therapeutic effects originally developed by gerontologist Jim Birren at the University of Southern California, and which is now practiced worldwide. Jim Thornton, in UBC’s Faculty of Education, was instrumental in introducing GAB to Canada. While GAB participants can be of any age, the practice often particularly appeals to older adults in a retirement transition, who may want to look back on the trajectory of a life, and “restory,” remembering forgotten moments of strength and resilience. More about GAB at https://thebirrencenter.org/gab-as-the-cornerstone.
How Will This Group Work?
We’ll meet weekly in a small group for either six sessions of approximately two and a half hours. Each week, each group member will write a short autobiographical fragment of approximately 1000 words in response to a series of prompts on a theme, and share what they have written by reading aloud during the second half of the session. Each group member makes a commitment to write regularly and attend each session, and to listen to and to comment empathically on others’ stories.
Your Facilitator
Philip Holden is UBC alumnus who, after graduation taught literary and narrative studies at the National University of Singapore until his retirement in 2018. In addition to an ongoing commitment to historical research and creative writing, Philip is now a Registered Clinical Counsellor in British Columbia, Canada, and splits his time between Vancouver and Singapore. More about him at http://www.pulauujong.org/me.
Some Possibilities for Discussion
- In its original form, a GAB group last for six weeks. Trust builds in the group, and writing goes deeper. However, many facilitators also offer a “short form” of six weeks, which requires less long-term commitment from participants: I’m open to either.
- Birren devised a series of themes for each week that move from topics that are often easier to write about (e.g. “branching points,” money, career) to those that are more difficult (e.g. spiritual beliefs, attitudes to death). It’s possible to keep these, or alternatively to adapt some weekly topics so that they focus more precisely on an academic life.
For session start dates and times contact events@emerituscollege.ubc.ca