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 Frustrated? Tired? Confused? This episode is for you!

Helen Montgomery received her PhD in 2011 from the University of Nevada Las Vegas in Experimental Psychology with concentrations in statistics, quantitative methodology, and human factors. She has worked in higher education for over 20 years, serving as a dissertation chair, methodologies, and administrator in graduate programs. After years of witnessing doctoral learners who were frustrated, lost, or felt hopeless, she identified a need to offer dissertation students a space where their existing skills were recognized and celebrated, and new skills could be taught and nurtured in a kind and understanding way.

In 2016, she started The Kind Coach.

What is a dissertation coach? Someone works with you through the process supplementing the guidance you get from your Chair. 

A GOOD Dissertation Coach will: 

• model writing and library research
• tutor research methods/analytical strategies
• be very hands-on – typically very frequent interaction
• translate the feedback and make sure you are implementing it correctly. 
• save you time, money, and your sanity/health 

Coaches are different from Editors and your Chair/Committee

Dissertation Editors – Correct your writing; do not necessarily need to talk to you; typically hired to get the paper ready for proposal or final review.

Chairs – The faculty are often constrained by time and will rely on you to develop requisite skills that are needed to complete your research (e.g., learning statistics, scholarly writing, APA, etc.).

Tips:

1.     Discuss with your Chair; be transparent. Ask: Do you think I would benefit from a coach?

2.     Shop around (BUYER BEWARE). A good coach will: have a terminal degree (PhDs typically have more experience with theory), have a lot of experience mentoring dissertations/doc projects (to completion), and be prompt with communication.

3. Be wary of contracts/large sums of money up-front.

4. Get referrals if that makes you feel more confident. NOTE: I have a shortlist of coaches on my website: http://expandyourhappy.com/resources

3.     Get a coach EARLY 

4.     Remember - you must OWN your work (you will have to defend it to a committee)

Get the article: The Doctoral Journey - 12 Things You Should Know (that they probably won't tell you!): https://www.expandyourhappy.com/HDSP121
 

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