Who is A Dissertation Coach And Why Every Doctoral Student Should Get One

Completing a dissertation is the most difficult and time-consuming task a doctoral student will undertake during their studies. For many doctoral students, writing a dissertation often feels stressful, frustrating, and very isolating. Because a dissertation is such a significant undertaking, it can trigger imposter syndrome, a feeling of fraudulence or insecurity about one's abilities, and anxiety. Students typically feel this way because they sometimes need, but do not receive, guidance and support from their dissertation advisors/chair to help them complete their dissertation efficiently.

Some doctoral students manage the stress and anxiety that comes with working on their dissertation by working with a dissertation coach who provides needed support and guidance. Unfortunately, most students do not know who is, or what a dissertation coach does —I certainly did not when I was working on my dissertation, and I wish that I had one. Having one would have provided me with the resources needed to complete my dissertation in an efficient manner.

So, who is a dissertation coach? A dissertation coach is someone who provides guidance, support, and accountability during the dissertation journey. They provide guidance related to the dissertation process, offer suggestions for methodological approaches, editing and review, and help the student with time management. Dissertation coaches often serve as a sounding board for ideas and a source of motivation. A dissertation coach can be the difference between a completed and an incomplete dissertation. As a dissertation coach, I have supported and guided hundreds of doctoral students in a variety of ways.

Many doctoral students often struggle with the various components when working on their dissertation. Appropriate topic, problem statement, research questions, research approach and design, data collection and analyses and preparing for proposal and dissertation defense. . . Some students have an idea of the main concepts/social issues they have an interest in, but are not sure how to formulate a research question.

When working with dissertation students, I help them develop a plan for completing their dissertation on time. The plan frequently includes a detailed timeline for each chapter or section of the dissertation. When creating a timeline, competing priorities and other commitments that the student has are taken into consideration to ensure the plan we create is practical and realistic. Once the student has a plan that feels right to them, I function as their accountability partner to help them stay on track.

As a dissertation coach, I provide support and guidance to help my clients avoid common mistakes made during the dissertation writing process. I provide consistent feedback, orally and in writing, on the content written by the student. Providing these types of guidance reduces the number of times a student submits sections or chapters to their chair/advisors and committee members. This type of support and guidance has been found by my clients to be invaluable.

I also provide guidance related to the various formatting requirements and standards for dissertations. In reviewing a student's dissertation, I check for compliance with the requirements of their department or program as well as the formatting standards (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago). I also provide developmental editing, which helps the student with organization and flow of information as well as improving the overall structure, and content of their dissertation.

There are many things that I enjoy about being a dissertation coach, but the one that stands out the most for me is the emotional support I provide to my clients. Working on a dissertation is very difficult with the support of your advisor/chair. Can you imagine how much more difficult it must be working on something you have never done before without any kind of support? Doctoral students, regardless of the support they receive, will experience a range of emotions including excitement, anxiety, depression, loneliness, confusion, embarrassment, anger, frustration, lack of motivation, and disappointment. My goal, as a dissertation coach is to help my clients manage these emotions by serving as their sounding board and offering encouragement. Most of my clients find that having someone to help them manage some of these emotions keeps them focused on their goals and motivated to get to the finish line.

Completing a dissertation is a long and challenging process. It can be easy to feel isolated and alone, especially when experiencing frustration and disappointment. Don't struggle to write your dissertation alone! A dissertation coach can provide the guidance and support you need to finish your dissertation in a timely and less stressful way. They can give you the personalized help you need. With the help of a dissertation coach, you can overcome the challenges of the dissertation process and achieve your goal of earning a degree. Now that you know who a dissertation coach is and what they do, be sure to check out key considerations for choosing a dissertation coach.

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