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  • Coaching
    • Life Coaching
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    • Leadership Coaching
    • Mindfulness coaching
  • Workshops
    • Compassionate Conversations
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Write your stories, discover yourself

Write your life stories, two pages at a time

Join Kate as she facilitates the engaging Guided Autobiography method to help you uncover and make sense of your life stories.

Guided Autobiography was created by Dr James Birren over 40 years ago, helping participants to explore life stories using themed writing prompts and small group sharing. This research-backed approach enhances self-awareness, insight, perspective and a deeper understanding of your personal journey

Awaken your innate creativity and reconnect with memories in a meaningful and therapeutic way. In these classes you’ll be introduced to authentic conversation, thought-provoking questions, helpful writing techniques, inspiring videos, and easy writing exercises.

Each week we’ll explore a simple theme such as life branches, your life’s work, family, health etc. The topics will help you approach your personal stories with a renewed sense of openness and curiosity. Through the writing process, you’ll discover new insights as you craft a series of stories that are entirely your own.

No previous writing experience required.

Older woman writing a life story on a green typewriter in front of bookcases.

“Stories change lives; stories save lives.
They crack open hearts, they open minds.”

Brian Doyle

Woman writing her life story

In these workshops you will:

  • Reconnect with yourself through intuitive, theme-focused writing that helps navigate life’s transitions and pivotal moments.
  • Achieve greater clarity and fresh perspectives as you reflect on your journey.
  • Reawaken hidden talents and dreams, rediscover your life purpose.
  • Find inspiration from expressing your story through the art of storytelling.
  • Enjoy the process of connecting with others and exchanging stories within a nurturing and supportive environment.
  • Create a meaningful collection of life stories to share with those you love.

“We write to taste life twice,
in the moment and in retrospect.”
Anaïs Nin

write-your-story-2

Who are these workshops for?

Everyone is welcome to join the life story series and you don’t need any writing experience to benefit. The goal is not to write an autobiography (although you might find that the process inspires you to continue writing) but rather, to connect you with your own life experience.

Typically, Kate works with people who share some of the following qualities.

  • You might describe yourself as someone who thinks deeply.
  • You’re curious and open-minded.
  • You love the idea of exploring your creativity.
  • You have an interest in knowing yourself more authentically.
  • You enjoy reading and listening to other people’s stories.
  • You’re a kind and compassionate human being.
  • You want to explore how to view your life with greater meaning.

Upcoming workshops

INTRO TO LIFE STORIES

Join Kate for this introductory workshop where she’ll introduce the life stories writing process and its unique benefits.

– the benefits of writing your life stories
– how this process is accessible to everyone (including those with no writing experience)
– how to use prompts for your writing
– participate in engaging writing exercises
– make meaningful connections

Date:  Friday 27 June 2025
Time: 10.00am – 11.30am AEST
Where: Online via Zoom
Fee: $29 AUD

BOOK NOW

ONLINE LIFE STORY SERIES

Join Kate for this 6-week online course where you will write and share the things that shaped you. Kate will introduce the life stories writing process and each participant will have the opportunity to share a story briefly in a safe setting.

– introduction to prompts for your writing
– participate in engaging writing exercises
– make meaningful connections
– share your story in a small group setting

Commences: Friday 4 July 2025
Time: 10.00am – 11.30am AEST
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: $175 AUD

BOOK NOW

IN-PERSON LIFE STORY SERIES

Join Kate for this 6-week in-person course where you will write and share the things that shaped you. Kate will introduce the life stories writing process and each participant will have the opportunity to share a story briefly in a safe setting.

– introduction to prompts for your writing
– participate in engaging writing exercises
– make meaningful connections
– share your story in a small group setting

Commences: Spring 2025, date TBC
Time: 10.00am – 11.30am AEST
Venue: Mornington Peninsula TBC
Cost: TBC

JOIN THE WAITLIST

THE GIFTS OF LIFE STORY WRITING

Ignite personal growth – Deepen your self-awareness and embrace who you are with greater compassion.

Stimulate your mind – Keep your brain active and engaged through intentional, reflective writing.

Strengthen connections across generations – Document family stories that carry meaning and legacy.

Foster community and belonging – Share your journey in a space that welcomes honesty and care.

Discover your inner landscape – Uncover recurring themes and life-shaping moments.

Cultivate emotional clarity – Use writing as a tool to release stress and process your thoughts.

Find your voice through storytelling – Develop the confidence and skill to communicate your lived experiences.

JOIN THE INTRO WORKSHOP NOW

Kate-James-2020 crop

Kate James

Kate James is the author of Quietly Confident, and a coach and mindfulness teacher. For over 23 years, she has supported introverted women build self-belief.

She describes her own experience as a participant of Guided Autobiography as life-changing. “I learned so much about myself and found the process both healing and life-affirming.”

Participants say Kate is an authentic, warm and down-to-earth workshop leader.

WHAT PEOPLE SAY ABOUT GUIDED AUTOBIOGRAPHY

“This course has been life-changing. It came at the most perfect time for me and has been the highlight of my week. I’m going to miss it so much!”

Karen

“Guided Autobiography is such a brilliant format to help people understand and make sense of their stories. It was also a wonderful way to get to know others and learn from their experiences.”

Ellie

“Most weeks I found myself thinking, ‘what am I going to write about?’ but by the time I’d been in front of the laptop for ten minutes, the words just poured out of me. I didn’t know I had these stories inside me!”  
Sandy

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to attend the full series?

It is recommended that you join all six workshops but sometimes it’s inevitable that you need to miss one. For online courses, we’ll share a recording and for both online and in-person workshops, we’ll share everyone’s stories via email so you don’t miss any content.

How are the workshops run?

Each session includes engaging activities, discussion, and reading a section of your story in a safe, supportive small group setting.

How much writing is required?

Each week, you’ll write on the set theme in your own time between sessions. The aim is to write between 500 and 1,000 words, though you’re welcome to write more if you feel inspired. During the next live session, you’ll share a maximum of 1000 words within a small, supportive group. This ensures everyone has time to participate while still encouraging depth in your writing.

Will I receive feedback on my writing?

Feedback takes place in small groups during the live sessions and is designed to be uplifting and supportive. The focus is on encouraging your creative process rather than critiquing style or grammar. It’s all about your story so authenticity matters more than perfection.

Do I need any writing experience?

Not at all. This course is suitable for everyone. The focus is not on the quality of your writing, your grammar or spelling. It’s simply about sharing your story in your own words.

What technology do I need to use?

You will need:

  • A computer, tablet, or smartphone with a working camera and microphone for Zoom sessions.

  • A reliable internet connection to join live sessions and access course materials.

  • An email address for all workshops, as course materials will be emailed.

  • The ability to write and send your story via email as a PDF or Word attachment.

What is your refund policy?

Unfortunately we are unable to offer refunds or credits once the program has started but if you withdraw from the program within 7 days of commencing, we’ll happily offer a full refund.

Have a question?

If there’s something we haven’t answered, please reach out. We would love to hear from you.

ENQUIRE NOW

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Uncertainty has been a consistent theme in my life at the moment. With clients, friends, family and even for me at a personal level.I feel hugely grateful for mindfulness practices during times like these and I’ve also found the following five steps to be helpful.1. Find pockets of certainty, wherever you canTidy the house, sort your finances, clean out your wardrobe, organise your paperwork, plan your meals for a week. Making the small things around you feel ordered and beautiful will help you to feel a little more at peace.2. Appreciate the things that make your life beautifulOne of the things I became aware of while we were on holiday in Tassie was how much natural beauty was around us every day. Try engaging your sense of gratitude with every meal you eat, every friendly encounter, every interaction with nature and every opportunity you have to experience or engage in creativity.3. Make time for practices that are genuinely soothingIf meditation isn’t your thing (and it isn’t for many people), try a different form of mindful relaxation. On a recent Insight Timer Live we explored this topic together and came up with dancing, singing, reading, walking, yoga, pilates, gardening, playing, sketching, painting, skiing, paddle boarding, surfing. The most important thing is that you make time for whatever it is that brings you some calm. 4. Acknowledge your feelings and offer yourself compassionMake room for all of the emotions – the fear, anxiety, worry, sadness, anger, frustration and powerlessness. Notice where you feel those emotions in your body and offer yourself genuine compassion.5. Make peace with uncertainty, as best you canWe won’t feel uncertainty every day but it’s likely that we’ll experience it often in our lives and we’ll probably always find it difficult. Remind yourself that nothing will stay the same forever and you’re strong enough to handle this. ✨
“May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.” Nelson Mandela ✨
“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.” John Muir ✨
A follow on from last week’s post about aspiring to simplicity. I’m on holiday in Tasmania where I was lucky enough to live for ten years. Yesterday, as we drove through the countryside, I was struck by a lovely memory. At around the age of 12, I spotted many abandoned little cottages, very much like this one. I knew at the time that the simple beauty was all that I would ever want and need in my lifetime. A humble home surrounded by plenty of nature. I had a picture of myself planting a garden, reading by the fire, writing at a little wooden desk and baking in an old fashioned kitchen. Maybe one day having my own children and sharing my love of nature with them. Almost 50 years later, it’s still all of these things that fill me with joy and give my life meaning. I think most of us knew ourselves well at that age yet often, we lost trust in what we believed in and started shaping ourselves to please other people. Can you remember what it was you dreamed of? ✨
An invitation to go a little more gently this week. To let go of some of your striving. To notice the things that you already have. And to make sure that you really do treasure them. ✨💛
Since writing last week's post, I've had my value of 'inner harmony' front of mind, because it's something I don't always find easy.I've been a worrier all my life, so even after years of meditation practice, I sometimes find it hard to create a quiet mind – unless I'm immersed in nature. When Chris encouraged me to try paddle boarding a few years ago, I had no idea if I'd be able to do it. I'm not naturally sporty so things like this don't come easily. But something magical happened when I first stood on that board and looked into the beautiful clear water.I felt (and still feel) transported to a place that removes me from all of my worries. I become immersed in the wonder beneath me. The forests of seaweed, the schools of fish, the way the sunlight creates patterns on the seabed and once, we paddled with dolphins. All of it is truly magical (and quite miraculous that I can keep my balance). I didn't mention last week that one of my other values is courage, which is the one I embraced when I first went out onto the water.The irony is that some of the moments that bring the most peace are made possible when I do something that scares me. ✨
One of the things I do with almost every new client I work with is a values exercise. It's such a powerful tool to help you identify what really matters in your life. Once you've chosen your personal values, you begin to understand why certain choices, places or relationships, feel so right. And why others really don’t. Your values will help you make meaningful choices that shape how you live every day. And as soon as you start living in alignment with your values, your life immediately becomes more meaningful.Do you know your top three values? I’d love you to share them if you do. Mine are inner harmony, kindness and connection. As well as connection with others and myself, this includes a deep sense of connection with nature which is why we live where we do. 🌿 If you’re interested to discover your values, I’ve included a link in my bio to an easy exercise that will help you gain clarity on yours. It really can be life-changing. ✨
This morning on @insighttimer Live, I spoke about the practice of gratitude and how research has found it to be an antidote to many physical and psychological challenges.It can improve sleep, reduce fatigue, and lower levels of cellular inflammation. One study found that those who practice on a regular basis experience less depression and are more resilient following traumatic events.Another called it “the mother of all virtues”, in that it encourages other virtues such as patience, humility, and wisdom.In my own life, it has been a daily practice for a few decades now. At the end of each day, an app on my phone called Grateful sounds a reminder and allows me to add a few words and photos.The best thing is that I now have a collection of my favourite memories that I can scroll through at any time. I took this pic just over a week ago at our local beach. At the end of an afternoon of swimming and paddling with Meg and me, Oscar said, “Grandma, that was the best day ever.” I love that he’s already grateful for the simple pleasures. ☀️
Five ways to be more true to yourself this year.I spent so much of my time in my twenties and thirties doing things to please other people instead of trusting myself and listening to my heart. It wasn't until I found the courage to accept that I might be criticised no matter what I chose that I found the courage to be true to myself. And I can honestly tell you, it's life changing. I hope the following quick tips help. 1. Let go of the idea that you need to do what’s expected of you. In Bronnie Ware's book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, number one on the list is, "I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."2. Believe that you’re strong enough to handle some criticism. It might still be hurtful but after a short amount of time, that hurt will pass. The more you're being real, the less critical you'll be of yourself, and that's energising.3. Trust that you already know what fulfills you. Often when I meet a new client they tell me they don't know what they want. Once we get talking, it turns out that they do, but like all of us, it can be confronting to be really honest with themselves. 4. Give up one thing that hasn’t been serving you. This can be literally anything. Whatever it is that you choose, do it from a place of self-love not from a place of self-criticism.5. Take one courageous step towards the life of your dreams. It doesn't need to be huge but when you want something to change, there has to be some action taken. Make the phone call, update your profile, send (or accept) an invitation, join a class...it doesn't matter what you choose, just do something. ✨
© Kate James 2025

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We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands we live and work on, the Boonwurrung people of the Kulin Nation and pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging.

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