Autobiographical Writing

Activity:  Autobiographical Writing

Target Participant Group:  Assisted living/nursing home residents

Therapeutic potential of this activity:

·         Provide opportunity for self-awareness

·         Provide opportunity for self-acceptance

·         Provide opportunity for healthy expression of emotions

·         Provide opportunity to build self-esteem

·         Provide opportunity to reminisce

·         Provide opportunity for participants to practice empathy

What other groups may benefit from this activity?

• Individuals who have experienced trauma (with knowledgeable facilitator only)
• Individuals who have difficulty expressing emotions
• Individuals who would like to expand their creative writing skills
• Individuals with dementia

What groups may not be as appropriate for this activity?

• Individuals who are too young to read and write

Activity description:

   Autobiographical writing can be facilitated in a group setting or on an individual basis.  Often, it is helpful for facilitators to have pre-selected suggested writing topics in order to help participants have a place to start their writing (i.e. family, job, hobbies, etc.)  Other methods, however, might be to use photo albums of the participants in order to give them some more flexible writing topic ideas.  A useful format for autobiographical writing programs is to have weekly group sessions where participants can brainstorm as well as share the stories they wrote throughout that week based off of the ideas given in the group session.  If desired, facilitators can offer to word process participants’ stories for them to have an easily readable copy for their families. 

Resources needed:

• Paper
• Pencil
• Word processor
• Group meeting room
• Creativity

Best leadership style for this activity?

   The best leadership style for this activity is one that provides enough structure for participants to get started but enough freedom so that participants can truly be creative and express themselves how they best see fit.

Where did I find this activity?

   Activity information was found in an article by Nancy Richeson, Ph.D., CTRS, called Autobiographical Writing:  An Innovative Therapeutic Recreation Intervention at http://www.recreationtherapy.com/articles/autobiographical.htm.  Photo found at http://www.gcrweb.com/HeartDSS/photos/old-people-reading-copy.jpg.

Where can others find more information on this activity?

   For more information about autobiographical writing go to http://www.storyhelp.com/autotypes.html.  This is a great website by the Center for Autobiographic Studies with information on types of autobiographies as well as links to purchase other individuals' stories.