Coaching and mentoring
One-to-one support for researchers who need something more specific and individual than a course or group training.
Whether you are deep in the trenches of your PhD thesis or designing a wider project, it’s normal to get a bit stuck along the way.
A wobble in confidence or feeling of overwhelm can strike at any time or stage in your career.
As a Qualified Coaching Professional with almost two decades of experience in academia (and in conducting qualitative research) I offer a blend of bespoke coaching and mentoring that focuses on practical action and support to help you move forward.
Coaching and/or mentoring helps you overcome the challenges you are facing and gives you the accountability you need to further your research; ultimately helping you progress your career in academia or social research in a way that achieves your version of success.
1:1 Coaching and Mentoring Services
I offer the following coaching and mentoring services to PhD students, academics, and social researchers:
The PhD Journey
Qualitative Research
Qualitative Writing and Publishing
Researcher / Academic Career Development
Achieve the next step in your career. This can include coaching on how to write CVs and Cover Letters, applying for academic positions, and mapping out your professional development post-PhD and post-doctoral positions.
As someone who has recently left academia and worked at various universities throughout her career, I also coach clients on applying for academic posts, deciding whether to move posts, applying for promotion, transitioning out of academia, post-academic careers, and translating their skills (including research skills) into other industries.
For supervisors and research leads
1:1 Coaching and mentoring packages
Booking with me is flexible, depending on whether you need a one-off session or a package of sessions for sustained support. If it’s the latter, we meet regularly over an agreed period and work on whatever is in front of you: i.e. research design or a funding proposal, qualitative method planning or practice, data analysis, writing, publishing or a difficult supervisory relationship.
Coaching and/or mentoring for my clients often includes for example:
- Working through qualitative coding or analysis on a live project
- Getting a journal article, chapter or thesis moving along or submitted
- Research design and methodological decisions
- Selection and design of research methods (i.e. feedback on focus group plans or questions, qualitative interview design, improving facilitator or interviewer skills, or qualitative survey design)
- Building a writing practice that is achievable and balances alongside a full workload
- Navigating academia, supervisory relationships, or deciding whether to stay in it
Everyone needs a different amount of support, so you can book as many coaching and/or mentoring sessions as you like depending on my availability.
Each session lasts for 60 minutes and takes place virtually on Zoom. If you are working closely with other PhD students or a team of researchers, group coaching is also available.
1:1 Coaching and/or Mentoring
One Session: From £125 (+ VAT)
Four Sessions: From £500 (+ VAT)
Group Coaching
Prices start at £250 (+ VAT) for a one-hour session.
Get In Touch
Get in touch with me about where you are with your qualitative research and to find out would help you get unstuck. This is the first step if you are not sure which of my services are right for you.
What My Clients Have to Say
Anonymous
"Working with Karen has been a really great experience. She's given me lots of guidance, advice and space to reflect on my current interviewing and moderation skills through several one-to-one coaching sessions. I really appreciated the time she took to get to know the research context I work in to ensure the guidance and skills matched that. I look forward to taking these skills forward and hopefully working with Karen again in the future."
Avgi Christodoulou
"After attending one of Dr Karen Lumsden’s courses, I sought her help for private one-to-one sessions to expand my qualitative research skills and gain confidence in my PhD journey. Dr Lumsden is an exceptional mentor whose extensive expertise, personalised approach, and unwavering support exceeded all my expectations. Her ability to tailor each session to my specific needs not only deepened my understanding of qualitative methodologies but also gave me the confidence to approach my research with clarity and focus. Dr Lumsden’s unique blend of academic rigour and compassionate guidance made a profound difference in my PhD experience. I highly recommend her sessions to anyone seeking outstanding, bespoke mentorship in qualitative research.''
Albie Liddiard
“Working with my coach Karen has been life changing. She’s helped unlock my thinking, enabling me to take full accountability for achieving my goals. Her insights and support have empowered me to make meaningful challenges with newfound clarity and confidence. I am very clear on who I am going to be now."
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