Considers two books, Sara Lawrence Lightfoot's biography of her mother, "Balm in Gilead: Journey of a Healer" (1988), and Pauli Murray's autobiography, "Song in a Weary Throat: An American Pilgrimage" (1987), to illustrate that, by approaching such literature from perspective of social learning theory, one can learn more about…

Presents family autobiography as useful tool for counselor educators to help promote personal growth in counselor trainees. Discusses theoretical background on the influence of counselors' family of origin on their counseling and interactive skills, focusing on individuation and triangulation in the family of origin. Describes use of family…

Analyzes "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" as a narrative which is about the growth of an individual and the experience of a people. Discusses nature of Malcolm's autobiography, the radicalizing changes that he underwent throughout his life, his acceptance of Islam, his assumption of the role of educator for the Black people, and his…

Describes Guided Autobiography, process developed to assist family life educators in helping families adapt to new demands and changing circumstances by serving as facilitators of the life review process. Explains how Guided Autobiography incorporates use of sensitizing questions, pretested themes, and group process to encourage life review in…

The article considers the contributions of Gee's Discourse theory to the study of multiethnic identity among mixed heritage students. By framing experience within social context, activity, and interaction, I argue that Discourse theory facilitates a conceptualization of ethnic identity as a situated phenomenon emerging at the intersection of the…

Contends social workers can help elderly people, especially those over age 85, to deal with the struggle for integration and avoidance of despair by using autobiographical writing in group settings. Describes process of client selection, group process of writing, and outcomes. (ABL)

Describes the work of Friends of the Children of Mississippi, a Head Start program which began in the late 1960s and for which the author was hired to develop Black history materials for teacher training. Presents excerpts from the autobiographies of several Black women trainees in the program. (GC)