Doing your PhD can feel so much better than this.

I try to accommodate as many people around the world as possible, but as you can imagine, it’s impossible to make all sessions accessible to everyone! In quarter 3, coaching sessions will run on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between 8am and 5pm BST - they will change each week to try and accommodate as many people as possible. For the first time, the themed coaching sessions and the Q&As will be available as recordings to watch any time through the quarter. The coworking sessions are on Mondays either 9-11 or 3-5pm. You can subscribe to my Google Calendar so all the dates and session titles can go straight into your diary. I will confirm slots for Q4 nearer the time.

All of the themed coaching sessions will be recorded and have accompanying handouts. That means you have access to all the information even if you're not able to attend live.

If you have questions, you can ask in the "questions for Vikki" channel in Slack and I'll give you a personalised audio response, published in a podcast (you'll be able to hear everyone else's Q&A sessions too).

None of the other coaching sessions are recorded. While I know it’s convenient to be able to access sessions at your own convenience, I find that students are more comfortable being coached when they know it isn’t being recorded for others to watch. It also prevents you getting a big backlog of calls to feel "behind" on. 

We are inclusive of people with a variety of mental health conditions and neurodivergence. If you have specific needs, please do get in contact to discuss. It’s important to note, however, that the membership is not an alternative to proper care from qualified experts in your particular condition. I coach people WITH these conditions, on aspects of your PhD work and experience which are within my expertise; I don’t coach ON these conditions or replace other treatments.

It’s great that you’re thinking through whether this is something that you will find helpful at this stage of your PhD. We do sometimes think that we’ve found a “quick fix” and then get disappointed when everything isn’t better immediately. With The PhD Life Coach membership, there is no such thing as “completing” it. You can attend as many or as few sessions as you like. Some students come to all of them, and use that structure to keep up the momentum and the focus on their own development. Others just pop in from time to time when they’re particularly in need of support. Some do all the self-paced elements and some do none (and everything in between). I would recommend you join with the intention of getting as much out of it as you can and knowing that you probably won’t show up perfectly consistently and that’s ok. This membership can be incredibly useful even if you use it inconsistently.

If you don’t have time for 1-2 hours a week of coaching, then you definitely need coaching! Usually it’s the people that need it most who think that they can’t squeeze in another thing. I would estimate that for every hour you put in, you will get at least 3-4 hours back of more focused, more intentional work. Those hours will feel better too, because you’ll be kinder to yourself and recognising your progress instead of telling yourself that there’s just too much to do. Don’t underestimate how much a motivation session can change everything! Some of my clients tease me that they come just to get their “little dose of Vikki” for the week!

If you’re studying for a PhD, then it’s right for you. I coach people all over the world, part-time, full-time, professional doctorates, all sorts. As long as it’s a research programme, and you want support with getting it done with ease and less stress, then you’re in the right place. My clients who are towards the end of their PhDs find it’s just what they need to get them over the line. They often say they wished they’d found it sooner! Those at the beginning of their academic journeys can use it to build good habits now and navigate the uncertainty of starting a research degree. 

If you are a Masters student, particularly if you have a large research component to your programme, you'll fit right in. Similarly, if you are an early career researcher, you are welcome to join. Unfortunately we won't be a good fit for undergraduate students.  If you're an academic with a PhD who supervises other students, this membership won't be a good fit for you - do stay on the newsletter though because who knows what might come up in the future!  

No. If you have signed up for a PhD and would like to join so that you can start to prepare for your research, then please come on in! I don’t provide support for the application process itself as it varies so much around the world and it’s not my area of expertise

No. I don’t provide review services or give any discipline-specific academic advice. I’m not the expert in your field and I would hate to guide you in the wrong direction! I can however help you to figure out how to get what you need from your supervisor or your wider support team and overcome other issues that are preventing you from making progress on your thesis.