Get in touch: hello@totalbalance.com.au
life coach melbourne
  • About
  • Coaching
    • Business Coaching
    • Leadership Coaching
    • Half-day coaching intensive
  • Workshops
    • Compassionate Conversations
    • Write Your Life Stories Workshops
    • The Confidence Course
    • Free Monday Talk & Meditation
  • Speaking
  • Retreat
  • Resources
    • Kate’s books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • 0 items
  • About
  • Coaching
    • Business Coaching
    • Leadership Coaching
    • Half-day coaching intensive
  • Workshops
    • Compassionate Conversations
    • Write Your Life Stories Workshops
    • The Confidence Course
    • Free Monday Talk & Meditation
  • Speaking
  • Retreat
  • Resources
    • Kate’s books
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • 0 items

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.

This research-backed approach will help you to explore your life stories using themed writing prompts and small group sharing, giving you a deeper understanding of your personal journey.

This is a program that will improve your self-awareness, give you insight into who you are and open renewed perspectives about your life experiences. 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 – everyone is welcome.

JOIN THE COURSE NOW
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.
JOIN THE COURSE NOW

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:  Saturday 19 July 2025
Time: 9.30am – 10.30am AEST
Where: Online via Zoom
Fee: Free

BOOKINGS CLOSED

ONLINE LIFE STORY SERIES

Join Kate for this four-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: Saturday 16 August 2025
Time: 9.30am – 11.00am AEST
Where: Online via Zoom
Cost: $195 AUD

BOOK NOW

IN-PERSON LIFE STORY SERIES

Join Kate for this four-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: 9.30am – 11.00am 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 COURSE 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 of the 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

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM

A few weeks ago, I shared a post about the hidden patterns that show up when we don’t feel good enough. Then last week, I wrote about how exploring our life stories can help us understand ourselves better and give our lives greater meaning.Quite by accident, I’ve just come across a piece of research that brings these two threads together and confirms something I’ve felt for a long time: writing our stories can be transformative.Each of us carries an inner narrative that explains who we are and what’s possible for us. But sometimes that story is skewed or outdated – especially when it tells you you’re not good enough. Rewriting your story isn’t about fixing or changing yourself. It’s about seeing yourself more clearly and holding your experience with greater truth, clarity and compassion.While working on a writing exercise for my Life Stories facilitator training, I stumbled across this old photo of my family. I was around seven years-old and we’d just moved back to Sydney. I was at a new school and hadn’t yet made friends. It was a pretty lonely time in many ways, but after writing, I came to see it very differently. It was when I learned to love spending long hours on my own. Immersing myself in novels, playing alone at the local playground, and learning to love the stillness of nature.Finding that photo helped me see that chapter of my life very differently. Not so much as a time of aloneness but rather, a time of discovery.That’s the power of writing our stories: it gives us the chance to look again and sometimes, to see ourselves and our lives in a completely different light.I've included a link to last week's article about some of the benefits of story writing in my bio. Have a read and try the tips I suggest to help you start writing your stories. ✨#narrativeself #writingtowellbeing #selfworth #womenwhocoach #confidencecoach #lifecoachmelbourne #mindfulleadership
This week I’m sharing an excerpt from a wonderful poem by Andrea Gibson, titled ‘The Lifegiving Benefits of Befriending Our Mortality’. It’s a beautiful reminder to live more in the present moment. You’ll find the full piece on Andrea’s Substack (I’ve included a link below). ✨“But I did not meet this life until I met its brevity. Did not meet my voice until I knew every word could be my last. I did not know what prayer was until I started praying for what I already have. but this is what I know for certain–warming up to the idea of a promised tomorrow is the surest way to give today the cold shoulder. I whisper the words my therapist said years ago, The only thing we have control over in this life is where we put our attention.”Read the full piece here: https://open.substack.com/pub/andreagibson/p/benefits-of-befriending-our-mortality?r=2dpij&utm_medium=ios#livinginthemoment #mindfulliving #gratitude #slowdownandbreathe #hereandnow #groundedinpresence
Do you have a place that brings you immediately to stillness?For me, it’s anywhere in nature, but my favourites are the top of a mountain or a place with a view of the sea.There’s something about a wide open sky or an endless horizon that feels completely grounding and calming.In those moments, I don’t need to achieve or fix or figure anything out. I can just be. I try to carry that same stillness into my workdays, but it’s not quite the same as being in one of those magical places.Where do you go to feel grounded? And more importantly, do you make time to be there? It’s an effort sometimes but always truly worth it. Maybe something you can plan this week. ✨#stillnesswithin #natureheals #findingcalm #momentsofstillness #innerpeace #slowliving #mindfulpause #totalbalance
Lately, I’ve been exploring the subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) ways our “not good enough” stories show up in daily life.As well as causing an overly active inner critic, they can appear as perfectionism, procrastination, overworking, people-pleasing, self-sabotage and comparing ourselves to others.These patterns, and the behaviours that accompany them, often feel completely normal. Sometimes they seem helpful or even protective. But underneath, there’s a subtle or even subconscious belief: “I’m not enough as I am.” Most of us fall into several of these habits from time to time, but you might notice that one or two are your familiar defaults when self-doubt creeps in.This week, see if you can catch yourself if you're over-functioning or feeling stuck. Pause. Take a breath. And choose just one small step that leads you in a different direction. ✨#youareenough #quietconfidence #selfworthjourney #buildingconfidence #notgoodenough
After some time away, I’m finally returning to this space. I have missed connecting with you here.I’ve been navigating an autoimmune condition which surprisingly, has turned out to be as much of a gift as a challenge.It has made me really slow down and focus on my wellbeing. Like many of us, I’ve had a tendency to overcommit – which is probably why I’ve been teaching mindfulness all these years: as much as a reminder to myself as a gift to those I teach.I’ve spent time reflecting on why we do these things, which has inspired plenty of research, a whole lot of writing and insights that have been helpful for me and I hope for you too as I share them.While I’ve been dealing with this small health issue, the world is also having its own kind of reckoning, and both of these things have given me a reason to pause and consider what really matters.Here’s what I’ve been making time for:✨ Slower mornings, always with time to meditate and walk in nature.✨ Deepening my connection with creativity. I’ve just finished training as a facilitator in writing our life stories. I’ll share more about this soon.✨ More time for journalling and writing.✨ Moving more slowly and gently. I know this sounds like such a small thing, but since becoming a mother over three decades ago, I have had a tendency to rush through my life. ✨ Being aware of my need to rest, which means setting healthier boundaries.✨ Deepening my connection with meditation which has meant writing and recording some new tracks. I’ll share these on Insight Timer in the coming months.✨ Taking the pressure off myself socially, but making time to do restorative, gentle things with dear friends and family.I definitely don’t have it all figured out yet but I am listening more carefully to what matters – and for now, letting that be enough.If you’re on a similar path of slowing down, healing and reprioritising, I’d love to hear how you’re travelling. What have you found most helpful? ✨#autoimmunehealing #slowliving #mindfullife #womenandwellbeing #meditationpractice #creativehealing #natureheals #writingtoheal #insighttimer #lifeinbalance #cradlemountain📷 by @chrisjamesphotos ❤️
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 ✨
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. ✨💛
© Kate James 2025

Menu

  • About Kate James
  • Kate’s ideal client
  • Life coaching
  • Business coaching
  • Leadership Coaching
  • Half-day coaching intensive
  • Workshops & Courses

 

  • Kind words
  • Resources
  • Giving back
  • FAQ
  • Terms & conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Get in touch

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.

FOLLOW US

Cleantalk Pixel