The Dissertation Studio
@HeART Space
A high-touch, in-person coaching and writing program for doctoral students who are ready to stop surviving their dissertation and finally finish it.
Apply to Join the Fall, 2026 Cohort"A crowded mind leaves no space for a peaceful heart."
— Christine Evangelou
You Didn't Start Your Doctorate to Feel This Way.
Does any of this sound familiar?
✓ You've gone weeks—or even months—without writing.
âś“ You avoid opening emails from your dissertation chair.
âś“ Every writing session feels overwhelming because you don't know where to begin.
âś“ You wonder if everyone else is finishing except you.
âś“ You're exhausted from balancing work, family, and your dissertation.
âś“ You're afraid you'll never cross the finish line.
You're not alone.
Most doctoral students don't struggle because they lack intelligence.
They struggle because the dissertation asks them to manage isolation, uncertainty, perfectionism, competing priorities, and years of sustained effort.
No one teaches you how to do that.
That's where we come in.
Get Ph-Done! with The Dissertation Studio
The Dissertation Studio is a comprehensive doctoral success program combining structured writing time, practical dissertation guidance, and compassionate coaching to help you complete your dissertation while protecting your well-being. tutoring. Not just editing. Not just another productivity course.
This is a community built around helping doctoral students finish with support and care.
Weekly Writing Studio
Join us every week for a four-hour, in-person, guided writing session. Bring your laptop, settle in, and make meaningful progress alongside others who understand the demands of doctoral work. Each session you will set a micro-goal and have on-hand coaches and dissertation experts to support you and to celebrate your progress. (Get 14 Meetings. 12 topic-specific writing sessions plus a goal-setting session and a “next steps” session). Access to a co-working space is available at other times during the week.
Dissertation Strategy Sessions
Our doctoral level coaches have served as college professors, doctoral committee members, and dissertation chairs. During the semester, you will schedule six 50-minute sessions of individualized support to ask your research questions, formulate your ideas, get writing support, and unlock the mysteries of the doctoral process.Â
Personalized Integrative Coaching
Because completing a doctorate isn't just an academic challenge, individual coaching sessions focus on motivation, managing stress, overcoming procrastination, perfectionism, burnout, and building sustainable habits. During the semester you will schedule six 50-minute sessions with a professional coach to get the support you need to finish your dissertation while still caring for your whole self.
3-Day Writing Intensive
Extend one regular Friday afternoon into a full 3-day focussed, supported writing intensive. Coaches are on hand to support your ideas and process, but also to ensure you are feeling your best. You focus on your work, and we focus on you. Catered food, coaching support, chair massage, therapy animals and other stress-busters to help you focus and make big strides toward completing your goals. (Scheduled for October 23-25)Â
Monthly Doctoral Success Workshops
During the semester, there will be at least 4 tips and tricks workshops to help you navigate topics like designing your plan for writing, picking a dissertation committee that you love, communicating effectively with your chair to get what you need, and how to crush your defense and finding your “...so what…”Other topics include overcoming writer’s block, time management, etc. Workshops will be accessible via video for later reference. Participants get access to the full library.
A Curated Community
Celebrate milestones, share challenges, exchange ideas, and remember that you're not the only one navigating this process. With a cohort limited to 10 people, you will find belonging and support from others who are walking the path with you. Every week, you’ll see the same familiar faces who will be happy to see you. You are more than a number. We will notice if you don’t show up, because you and your success are important to us.
Why this Works
Most dissertation programs focus only on the academic work.
Most life coaches don't understand academia.
This Dissertation Studio bridges both worlds.
You receive practical guidance for navigating the dissertation process while also developing the resilience, accountability, and confidence needed to keep going when the work gets difficult.
Because finishing a dissertation isn't just an academic challenge.
It's a human one.
Is this Right for Me?
- This program is ideal if you are:
Â
✔ A Heart-Forward PersonÂ
âś” Feeling Stuck or isolatedÂ
âś” ABD (All But Dissertation)
âś” Writing your proposal
âś” Collecting or analyzing data
âś” Drafting chapters
âś” Revising after committee feedback
âś” Preparing for your defense
âś” Returning after a long break
âś” Ready to finish
✔ Working to Publish after Completion
Schedule a Chat!
You have already proven you can do doctoral-level work.
Now it's time to finish.
Join a community that believes you can.
We want to meet you and discuss if this program is a good fit for your needs. Fill out the application or schedule a chat with your coaches.
Email us at: [email protected]Â or
Schedule a DiscussionMeet Your Coaches
With a combined 52 years of academic teaching experience, the Dissertation Studio coaches bring a wealth of knowledge, savvy, writing skill, and a deep understanding of the unique stresses that exist in academic pursuits. We've been there and want to help you find peace and joy in the process of realizing your dreams.
Dr. Amy Drewek
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Carly Flagg, MA, PCC
Carly has taught at the university level for over 25 years. She was a tenured professor and department chair before stepping away to support helping professionals prevent burnout. She coaches professors, students and professionals to balance professional goals and responsibilities with personal satisfaction and joy. With over 2,000 hours of coaching experience and additional training in self-compassion, trauma-informed care, somatic awareness, and creative expression, Carly supports heart-forward people to feel resilient in the face of professional challenges.
