Fostering a Guided Autobiography Community

Write Your Life Story - Two Pages at a Time

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Welcome to The Birren Center
for Autobiographical Studies

Our Mission:

The Birren Center is dedicated to enriching lives through the art of life story writing and sharing. We believe in the transformative power of life stories to connect generations and build community, bridge diversity, and make us whole - one story at a time.

In the words of Brian Doyle, "Stories change lives; stories save lives. ... They crack open hearts, they open minds."

Our Vision:

We envision a world where people connect across generations and divides, expand their respect, empathy, and wisdom, and create legacies for families and communities.

Our Values:

Stack of Autobiography Books

  • Authenticity

  • Community

  • Connection

  • Creativity

  • Diversity

  • Equity

  • Inclusion

  • Personal Development

  • Empathy

  • Person-Centered Knowledge

  • Service

  • Story Writing and Sharing.

Become a
GAB Member

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Membership Perks

Access to GAB Online Forum
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Access to Exclusive Content
Access to Online Courses
Member News & Events

Locate a
GAB Instructor

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GAB Instructors

Find a GAB Instructor Near You
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Get Certified

Make a donation.

The Birren Center for Autobiographical Studies is now a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Click the link below to donate to support our efforts to change the world and make connections one story at a time.

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Testimonials

  • "Thank you so very much for this amazing, life changing course! It has been the highlight of my year!"

    Cheryl D.

  • "Leading these classes has been a journey and a joy. GAB is an amazing help for people who want to write their stories, and I'm so grateful to you for giving me the tools to share the method."

    Leslie

  • "Guided Autobiography has so enriched my life. I feel very privileged and lucky to have this in my life. I have 4 groups who continue to meet once a month. One of them will be together five years next month."

    Micki S.

  • "Perhaps you won’t find this as amazing as I do, but it seems that each and every day I find that something from the GAB training helps in my life. Having done many trainings over the years, I know how truly unique this is. Thank you!"

    Lisa C.

  • "This was, hands down, the most joyful online training experience I've had."

    Jane

  • "Thank you for such a robust offering of materials, with a healthy dose of heart-centered leadership! "

    Sue

  • "It's a five-star program that produced five-star results in my life."

    Laurayne

  • "GAB has confirmed how important storytelling is as a progressive act of self, but also for connecting people, building empathy and learning life wisdom from each other."

    Anna

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