Taking the Stress Out of the Dissertation Process
Dr. Katrina Oko-Odoi
PhD in Literature,
University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
Peace of Mind
Gain some much-needed perspective and reassurance during this challenging process. With a support partner to walk through this journey with you, the overwhelm, confusion, and doubt will begin to fade away.
Accountability
It can be hard to stay on track with so many pressing responsibilities, from full-time employment or teaching, to family obligations and raising children. Avoid procrastination and missed deadlines with some gentle yet firm accountability.
Forward Momentum
With new systems and support in place, start feeling productive again as you begin to see forward momentum. Make steady progress on research and dissertation chapters, with a trusted reviewer by your side to offer feedback and guidance along the way.
Why I Do What I Do
The dissertation process shouldn’t be that stressful
I’ve worked with so many students over the years who are confused and overwhelmed with the dissertation process. It doesn’t need to be that way!
Hi, I’m Dr. Katrina Oko-Odoi, published author, lifelong teacher, business owner, and dissertation coach. I founded EditingWorm over a decade ago to support graduate students with the dissertation writing process and all that comes along with it. In the past ten years, I’ve worked with hundreds of students, providing targeted support to help them successfully complete their degrees.
After frequent requests from clients looking for even more personalized support, I was driven to start offering dissertation coaching. Coaching is the latest in my ongoing efforts to provide as much assistance as possible to graduate students struggling with their doctoral journey.
I believe that…
- Many graduate programs don’t provide sufficient support for students
- Every graduate student deserves supportive guidance and mentorship during their journey
- No graduate student should feel invisible, unworthy, neglected, mistreated, or alone
- If you have a passion for your topic and are committed to your research, you can successfully complete your degree
- It is possible to finish graduate school without feeling stressed and burnt out
I help demystify the doctoral journey and serve as a mentor for students who aren’t receiving the support they need within their own program.
The support I provide looks different for each individual, whether it’s a structured timeline and action plan for getting chapters written, assistance with the IRB process, guidance for dealing with challenging committee members, or a cheerleader who is present every step of the way.
Why I Do What I Do
The dissertation process shouldn’t be that stressful
I’ve worked with so many students over the years who are confused and overwhelmed with the dissertation process. It doesn’t need to be that way!
Hi, I’m Dr. Katrina Oko-Odoi, published author, lifelong teacher, business owner, and dissertation coach. I founded EditingWorm over a decade ago to support graduate students with the dissertation writing process and all that comes along with it. In the past ten years, I’ve worked with hundreds of students, providing targeted support to help them successfully complete their degrees.
After frequent requests from clients looking for even more personalized support, I was driven to start offering dissertation coaching. Coaching is the latest in my ongoing efforts to provide as much assistance as possible to graduate students struggling with their doctoral journey.
I believe that…
- Many graduate programs don’t provide sufficient support for students
- Every graduate student deserves supportive guidance and mentorship during their journey
- No graduate student should feel invisible, unworthy, neglected, mistreated, or alone
- If you have a passion for your topic and are committed to your research, you can successfully complete your degree
- It is possible to finish graduate school without feeling stressed and burnt out
I help demystify the doctoral journey and serve as a mentor for students who aren’t receiving the support they need within their own program.
The support I provide looks different for each individual, whether it’s a structured timeline and action plan for getting chapters written, assistance with the IRB process, guidance for dealing with challenging committee members, or a cheerleader who is present every step of the way.
Why a dissertation coach might be helpful for you:
You have a ton of ideas for your dissertation but you can’t narrow it down
You feel paralyzed by feelings of self-doubt
You’re feeling stuck and can’t seem to make forward progress
You don’t feel comfortable or familiar with academic writing
You aren’t getting enough support from your chair/supervisor or committee
You’re up against a hard deadline and need help making steady progress
You’re feeling overwhelmed by the demands of graduate school
You’re confused or overwhelmed by the IRB process
You struggle with balancing your workload and finding time for your dissertation
You feel like your program or committee members are deliberately stalling you
You feel like you’re going in circles with editing and rewriting dissertation chapters
You struggle with perfectionism and aren’t able to make forward progress
10 Keys to Successfully Navigating Graduate School
Start graduate school off on the right foot with this free guide
Grad school can be a daunting place. It is its own world with its own set of rules. I often wished that someone had given me a guidebook when I first started my doctoral program. So I’ve created that guide for you. I offer ten keys to help you navigate your graduate studies with more confidence and begin to lay the foundation for a successful academic career.
What Sets Me Apart as a Dissertation Coach
I’ve been a doctoral student, instructor, and committee member, and I’ve coached dozens of graduate students to successful PhD completion. I know the process inside and out, but most of all, I know how to provide the supportive, empathetic guidance you need to help get you unstuck and keep you moving forward.
My focus isn’t just structure or accountability. As your coach, I:
Become your biggest cheerleader
Play the role of sounding board to bounce ideas off of freely
Serve as PhD consultant to answer your questions on protocols, IRB, methodology, and more
Offer accountability to help you get your research and writing done
Read your writing and give overarching feedback and guidance
Help you navigate challenging relationships with committee members
I'm here to listen and lend my thoughts, to provide needed resources, and to devise systems for accountability and time management that work for you. Simply put, I’m here to offer personalized support to help make the doctoral journey easier and less stressful.
As a trusted guide who’s been there before, I confidently walk you through the dissertation process, providing customized support and tools to help you stay focused and productive.
As scholars—especially in the humanities and social sciences, we often get stuck in our heads. We need someone to put things in perspective and help us think through things. While some students are lucky enough to have a mentor or chair to play that role, that isn’t always the case. That’s where I come in.
The Coaching Process
I’ve designed my coaching to be flexible to meet each individual’s specific needs. I offer on-demand hourly coaching sessions as well as coaching packages of varying sizes, whether you want to engage me weekly, monthly, or just take it one session at a time.
How it works:
You fill out a Coaching Check-In Form before our session
I review your form and prep tools to support you
I spend 60 minutes offering the targeted support you need now
You receive a coaching debrief email within 24 hours
Curious about working together? I’d love to chat to see how I can be of support.
Get your complimentary informational session!
