Smiling woman in a wicker chair on a porch with white columns
Smiling woman in a wicker chair on a porch with white columns

Your Guides: Kay Lynn & Katherine

Katherine Schulten
Brooklyn, NY

Katherine has been a writing teacher for over 40 years, first in New York City public high schools, then as the longtime editor of The New York Times Learning Network, and now as a certified Guided Autobiography instructor.

Katherine completed both a master’s degree in teaching and a fellowship in journalism at Columbia University. She is a proud member of the National Writing Project, and a certified workshop leader for Amherst Writers & Artists.

She believes everyone has a strong, unique voice and that there is no better way to strengthen it than writing in community with others.

Kay Lynn Stevens
Pasco, WA

Kay Lynn has been a psychology professor for over 25 years, and what is most rewarding to her is helping people understand their own experiences and learn from others about theirs. She holds a PhD in General Psychology, is a certified yoga teacher, and is a certified Guided Autobiography instructor. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and dogs.

Kay Lynn looks forward to helping you unleash the power of your own story and shape the next chapter in your life with joy and compassion!

Smiling woman in a pink hat on the beach with her two dogs
Smiling woman in a pink hat on the beach with her two dogs

We met in the Birren Center class that initially certified us to be Guided Autobiography instructors. Despite the 2,712 miles between us, we knew immediately that we wanted to work together.

Now we co-teach online classes that are grounded in the GAB method and materials, but also draw on our own backgrounds and decades of classroom experience.

We can't wait to write with you!

More from our participants:


I can't say enough good things about the experience.

I was hesitant at first because I hadn't written outside of work for years, but Katherine and Kay Lynn created a safe space to be honest and creative.

I cherish the stories that I found inside me.

—Melissa M., 6-week workshop graduate

Our instructors worked together wonderfully to create an environment that encouraged my own growth. And they provided a critical human need: that of feeling heard, recognized, and appreciated.

Peer listening, feedback, and examples set by others were the perfect catalysts for exploring more topics, at greater depth, than I would have explored alone.

In fact, my notes and snippets of unexplored topics from their prompts & discussion well exceeds what I shared during our sessions.

—David C., 6-week workshop graduate