Upcoming Resources for PhD Students: Psychoeducation and Support

Pursuing a PhD can be one of the most rewarding experiences in academic life. It offers the opportunity to explore a subject in depth, contribute original knowledge, and grow as a thinker, writer, and researcher. Along the way, many students experience the joy of discovery, the satisfaction of intellectual challenge, and the sense of purpose that comes with engaging deeply in their field.

At the same time, the journey can also be one of the most challenging. The long hours, uncertainty about the future, high performance demands, and feelings of isolation can take a toll on mental health and wellbeing. It’s common to experience cycles of self-doubt, perfectionism, procrastination, or burnout — struggles that are far more widespread than we often acknowledge (Levecque et al., 2017; Mackie & Bates, 2019).

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Psychoeducational Resources

As both a therapist and someone with personal experience completing a doctorate, I know how important it is to have practical, evidence-based tools to navigate these challenges. That’s why I am currently preparing a series of psychoeducational resources specifically designed for PhD students. These will include short guides, exercises, and reflections on topics such as:

• Managing stress, anxiety, and low mood during the PhD

• Overcoming perfectionism and impostor feelings

• Building sustainable habits and routines

• Coping with isolation and fostering peer support

• Navigating the supervisor–student relationship

• Setting boundaries and maintaining work–life balance

• Mindfulness and cognitive–behavioral tools for everyday challenges

• Strengthening motivation and self-confidence throughout the PhD journey

  
  

These resources will be made freely available on my website beginning spring 2026. My hope is that they can serve as a supportive companion alongside the PhD journey and offer clarity, encouragement, as well as practical strategies for daily life.

Looking further ahead, I also plan on developing 1–2 day online workshops for doctoral students and early-career researchers to offer at local universities beginning spring 2026. These workshops would provide a more interactive space to explore these themes in depth, combining psychoeducation with practical exercises and peer connection.

I’ll share updates as the materials are finalized, so stay tuned! In the meantime, if you’re currently pursuing a PhD and would like to see a specific topic addressed, I’d be glad to hear from you.

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References

Levecque, K., Anseel, F., De Beuckelaer, A., Van der Heyden, J., & Gisle, L. (2017). Work organization and mental health problems in PhD students. Research Policy, 46(4), 868–879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.respol.2017.02.008

Mackie, S. A., & Bates, G. W. (2019). Contribution of the doctoral education environment to PhD candidates’ mental health problems: A scoping review. Higher Education Research & Development, 38(3), 565–578. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360.2018.1556620