==========================================
THE ALL-BUT-DISSERTATION SURVIVAL GUIDE(tm)
Devoted to practical steps for completing your
doctoral dissertation.
http://www.abdsurvivalguide.com
==========================================To subscribe, visit www.abdsurvivalguide.com
http://www.abdsurvivalguide.com/INDEX
=========1. Ben's note
2. The Blessings of Working in an ABD Support Triad
By Amy Colwell Bluhm, M.A.
3. Inspired to Write? Contribute to the ABDSG
4. Request for Dissertation Friendly Resources
5. Words of Wisdom
6. Inspirational Quote
SUMMARY
=========In this issue, Amy Colwell Bluhm, M.A., offers her
unique experience of working on her dissertation
in a supportive and co-operative framework with
two friends.If you know of dissertation friendly resources, or if
you're inspired to write, consider contributing to the
ABDSG.<>===<>===<>===<>===<>===<>
Ben's Note
December 1, 2004
Dear ABD Survival Guide Reader,
The dissertation can, sometimes, be a lonely
process. This is especially true for those of you
working far from campus, if you are the only
dissertator in your circle of friends, and if
you are juggling numerous other personal and
professional responsibilities while also working
to complete your Ph.D.In this issue, our feature article focuses on
creating a circle of support to bolster your
dissertation efforts.We continue our request for your contributions
of articles and resources- thanks to all of you
who have already sent these in.We round it out with Words of Wisdom and an
inspirational quote.Remember, the load is often lighter when it's
shared.See you in two weeks.
Warmly,
Ben
P.S. If you are a helping professional interested in
coaching, please visit www.mentorcoach.com. If you are a
professional from any other discipline interested in
coaching, please visit www.ecoach.com=============================================
The Blessings Of Working In An ABD Support Triad
By Amy Colwell Bluhm, M.A.
=============================================We have distinct dissertation projects: an ethno-
autobiographical inquiry into identity formation as
an Israeli immigrant, a participatory action research
project on diabetes education for people with visual
impairment, and a historical reconstruction of the
life of an early Jungian woman.What we do have in common, however, tethers all of
these outcroppings. We’re all mothers – Mama, Ema,
Amma – with 8 children between us, ages 14 months
to 26 years. (In some circles, we call ourselves
the Wild Mommy Scholars.) And we are all invested
in progressing co-operatively. This investment rests
firmly in our love and care for one another.For this short essay, I will focus on the co-operative
aspect of our work.Our co-operative framework comes from two places. First,
we have all been members of a participatory community
that, as part of an academic certificate program,
created a consensus model of co-operative learning.
Furthermore, two of us were involved in coursework
explicitly using the co-operative framework put forth
by John Heron (1998). Co-operative inquiry is a form
of participative, person-centered inquiry in which the
participants move in cyclic fashion between phases of
reflection and action.We have been less formal with Heron’s method in our
support triad than we were while undertaking course-
work. What we have learned from Heron’s work is the
importance of balancing individual work with collective
sharing and accountability.How can co-operative inquiry serve you in your
dissertation process? Here are some questions and
suggestions:* Do you communicate with people from your graduate
school program who are also in the dissertation
process?* Would you like to make any of these relationships
more intentional?* If so, talk with the person/people about what your
wants and needs are for this kind of process. Start
with questions such as:* Is it more important that we are both in roughly the
same place in our process, have similar topics,
compatible personalities, overlapping committees, or
some combination of these?* Do we have a common grounding goal or experience for
our work? There may be a shared desire to graduate by
a given date or to publish dissertation results. What
motivates us most?* What are some of the challenges we have faced or
imagine facing as we complete our dissertations? What
kind of support works for me/us?* Try a little imagery activity: imagine yourself walking
on to the stage to accept your diploma, going to the podium,
and speaking about your “perfect support team.” Imagining
the qualities that you feel are supportive to you gives you
a chance to try them out to see how they fit so you can ask
for that kind of support.* What to use your support relationship for:
* Accountability: state your intentions at the beginning of
the week and then check in with each other about your
progress as the week ends. Move forward those things
needing more time and give praise for what has been
completed. List things that are both easy and ambitious
to ensure both success and challenge.* Logistics: When working with your institution’s
administrative staff, offer support by “setting the
ropes” for each other. “When I did process x, I had
these results.”* Motivation: share challenges such as “I’m stuck with this
chapter.” And identify what would feel supportive such as:
“ Tell me it’s Ok to put it down for awhile” or “Would you
read it over for me?” or “Send some prayers, love, energy
my way.”* Support: Find out what feels supportive for you and ask
for it explicitly. Find out what feels supportive to your
support team and offer it. If you don’t know what to do
for your struggling supportee, offer support softly “How
would it be to try to put that chapter down for a bit?”
“ Would it help if I read it through for you?”Take the advice of my four-year-old: “Everything’s easier
when we do it together!”Reference: Hereon, J. (1998). Co-operative Inquiry:
Research into the Human condition. London:
Sage Publications.=============================================
About Amy Colwell Bluhm, M.A.
=============================================Amy is a doctoral candidate in the psychology
department at Saybrook Graduate School and Research
Center in San Francisco, CA. She holds a certificate
in Socially-Engaged Spirituality. Her dissertation
title is “Turning toward individuation: Carol Sawyer
Baumann’s interpretation of Jung, 1927-1932.” Amy can
be contacted by email at amykindred@yahoo.com.=============================================
Inspired to Write? Contribute to the ABDSG
=============================================We'd like to issue an open invitation for all recent
Ph.D.'s, faculty advisors, university professors,
consultants, graduate students, and writing coaches to
share your personal insights and wisdom regarding the
dissertation process. If you'd like to write for the
ABDSG, please contact rachna@mentorcoach.com to
request our guidelines and list of possible topics. You can
also view our archives at http://www.abdsurvivalguide.com
to see what we've recently published and/or to get some
ideas.We look forward to broadening our knowledge base through
your participation.When you share what you know, we all benefit.
Thanks in advance-Ben & the ABDSG staff
=============================================
Request for Dissertation Friendly Resources
=============================================In our ongoing efforts to make the ABDSG even more
useful for you, our readers, we're in the process of
compiling dissertation helpful resources in all categories.
Do you have editors, statistics consultants, software, books,
or other resources that you're using and are finding valuable?
If so, can you please share this information with Rachna
(rachna@mentorcoach.com), and she'll put together a
compilation of resources, posted on our website, so you can
find everything you might need - all in one place.Again, please send any relevant and helpful resources to
rachna@mentorcoach.com and please put ABDSG Resource
in the subject line.Thanks in advance for your help.
=============================================
Words of Wisdom
============================================="It's not as big of a deal as it seems at the time.
(Don't get me wrong - it's a big deal - but not as big
of a deal as I made it out to be.)"=============================================
Inspirational Quote
============================================="Individual commitment to a group effort, that is what
makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a
civilization work."
~~Vince Lombardi=============================================
Your Own Coach
=============================================If you are considering whether to get your own coach
to help you reach your academic goals, send any email to:
ben16-76471@autocontactor.com=============================================
BEN DEAN, Publisher, ABDSG
=============================================Ben holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University
of Texas at Austin. He is the founder of MentorCoach
(www.MentorCoach.com) a virtual university training
accomplished mental health professionals to become
extraordinary coaches.He is also founder of eCoach (www.ecoach.com) which
helps interdisciplinary professionals become coaches.Ben lives in suburban Maryland with his wife and two
young children, and Walnut, their hamster.=============================================
RACHNA D. JAIN, Editor, ABDSG
=============================================I'm a dissertation coach and licensed psychologist
based in Maryland, with a doctorate from the University
of Denver. I'm the Editor of the ABDSG, as well as the
Author of "Get It Done! A Coach's Guide to Dissertation
Success" and "Get it Done Faster: Secrets of Dissertation
Success". If you'd like to learn more about me or my
books, please visit my website:
http://www.ExcelWithEaseCoaching.comIf you have questions about this newsletter, you can
direct them to me:rachna@mentorcoach.comI'm excited to be working with you to meet your academic
goals. You can do it!=============================================
THE ALL-BUT-DISSERTATION SURVIVAL GUIDE(tm)
============================================="The All-But-Dissertation Survival Guide"(tm) focuses on
ways to help its readers more readily overcome the
roadblocks that often seem to stand in the way of completing
the dissertation. It is read throughout the world.=============================================
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ABOUT TO GRADUATE?
=============================================First, congratulations!!!! Yeaaaaaa!!!! Second, please send
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you'll receive a note from Ben.=============================================
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