the campsite: coaching for academics that need real support (not another deadline)
winter 2026 session
january 19 - march 28
doors are open now // limited spots available
you’re not lazy, doing it wrong, not working hard enough, or undisciplined.
you’re isolated, overwhelmed, and needing genuine support.
the problem isn’t that you don’t care about your work - it’s that:
you’re working alone while everyone else has graduated, moved on to another stage, or just doesn’t get your life and circumstances
the strategies that worked before aren’t working now, but you don’t know what else to try
you feel ashamed to ask for help because you should have it figured out by now - everyone else does, don’t they?
the pressure is relentless, but every task you add or tool you try just adds to the overwhelm
the campsite is a 10 week program that blends one-on-one coaching with community support to get you the structure, accountability, and connection that you actually need to make progress on your work.
it isn’t a productivity bootcamp, or one size fits all 30 day challenge. it’s a space to reconnect with your work, rebuild your rhythm, and work without burning out - guided by an experienced PhD coach who actually gets it
what you’ll get at the campsite
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✺10 live group calls
alternating fridays at 12 pm EST and wednesdays at 10 am EST
submit your questions ahead of time, show up live, listen to the recording - this time is to be in community and get timely coaching support. all calls are recorded and transcribed.
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✺ 24/7 private community space
your cohort, always accessible
connect with your fellow campers any time - get encouragement, share wins, troubleshoot sticky spots, and feel less alone. this is your virtual campfire.
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✺weekly assignments (the good kind)
structured reflection without stress
each week, i release a new assignment designed to give you new insights, and encourage experimentation. these are focused, practical, and sometimes even fun. think: reflection prompts, planning exercises, new tools to try to help you move forward.
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✺ two 1 on 1 calls with me
personalized support when you need it
each participant gets also gets two calls one on one with me, where we can go deeply into your specific situation, and make sure you have all the tools and support you need.
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✺ small groups
find your people
join or create smaller groups around shared program stages, life situations, or stationary obsessions. want to connect with other parents? people on the clock to finish? you’ll find them here.
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✺coaching, not chiding
no shame, no judgment, just visibility
it is so easy to avoid the tools, spaces, and mentors we know can help us, because we feel ashamed. especially if that support makes us feel like we aren’t doing enough. i won’t just heap on the pressure, i’ll actually coach you in real time to help you make progress.
who is this for?
there will be one large campsite for everyone, and the opportunity to form smaller groups around shared interests, life stages, program stage, or needs. this gives you the most flexibility - connect where and how you want, and still have access to all the resources. below are general descriptions of people who have joined and benefitted from the campsite before, so you can get a sense of who is inside. if you want to talk directly about whether you’d be a good fit, send me an email at hello@thrive-phd.com !
the last mile
are you planning to finish your dissertation or thesis in the next academic year (2025-2026)? are you finding it hard to relate to the fresh new grad students, and missing the community you had before people finished, got jobs, or left the program? this group will help people through the particular challenges of finishing the thing, and all the emotional and institutional stress that comes with such a huge accomplishment.
new trails
so you finished the big thing (dissertation, book, exams). are you finding it hard to reestablish your rhythms? is it hard to find a balance between your academic work and the reality of your work life after the thing? this group will help support people as they process the aftermath of a big project wrapping up, shed habits and practices that might not support them any longer, and adjust to a new reality that might not have the same level of support or resources.
after the fire
occasionally, something sweeps through your life and nothing is the same as it was before. are you rebuilding your academic life, because nothing is and should be the same as it was before? this group is centered around nurturing that tender growth after a large change - recovering from burnout, human changes, a new diagnoses or change in chronic illness or disability, for example - without shame or forcing ourselves back into old patterns.
what makes the campsite different
most support for academics is broken. it either:
pressures you to work even harder, adding to your overwhelm
offers the same generic advice you could get from a bot
creates even more shame when you can’t keep up
small groups
human first approach
i believe we’re always both humans and scholars - and i’ll never encourage you to do anything that doesn’t make sense for the whole picture.
actually get to know the people with you - not in a “what are you studying way” but the “i’ll be thinking about you when you submit today!” kind of way.
what do we do instead
expert coaching
i’m not just a cheerleader; this is my tenth year supporting academics, and i know how to get people where they want to go because i did it myself, and know how to teach in a flexible and compassionate way.
flexible engagement
schedule your one on one calls when they work for you. catch up with a recording - or come with your camera off - if you’re feeling overwhelmed. you control what you share, from your user name to your questions.
real accountability
not a “did you do this, yes or no” but a genuine let’s take account of what is working, and what isn’t, so we can move into something new.
pricing and payment options
no questions asked sliding scale
monthly payment options on all plans
$400
or $133/month
$600
or $200/month
$800
or $266/month
✺ Frequently asked questions ✺
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as private as you need to be! we will use Zoom for the meetings, so you can set your display to be something you’re comfortable with, and same with our community space. i will also be setting explicit expectations for the group about privacy and confidentiality - so important with work like this.
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nope! word count, minutes written, poms completed - those are all metrics, and they’re valid ways to measure your effort, but not the only ways. these groups are about transparency and connection, not competition.
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the focus of our group meetings will be on the process - how to schedule, how to break down tasks, how to measure progress - so i won’t be reviewing individual work one on one. but i will put out a few calls for writing swaps so that if you have writing you want extra eyes on, you can get that as well, and i also have a lovely list of editors to recommend.
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life happens - and the uncertainty is definitely at an 11 lately. meetings will be recorded so that if you miss, you can catch up afterwards, but our community space is always open. so even if you miss a session, you can track your work and get some visibility so that you aren’t totally alone.
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not necessarily! i’ll be taking your stage and role into account when i form the groups, but this offering is for anyone who is struggling with academic work in a human world.
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.you can either pay all at once or in monthly installments - both are completely the same, and both options are sliding scale. just select the price option from the drop down that works for your budget, no questions asked.