I didn’t have an easy dissertation journey.

When I was working on my own dissertation, I received very little guidance. I met with my advisor once a semester, and every time we met, I was told—often abruptly—that I was on the wrong track. There was no roadmap, no clarification about what was expected, and no meaningful mentoring to help me course-correct.

This cycle went on for three years.

I rewrote my dissertation six times. I requested extension after extension. Each revision felt like starting over, and each meeting left me more confused than the last. I wasn’t failing because I wasn’t capable—I was failing because I didn’t have the support or methodological clarity I needed to succeed.

Eventually, I reached a breaking point. I was exhausted, discouraged, and seriously considering quitting.

What changed everything was switching advisors. With clearer guidance and aligned expectations, I rewrote the dissertation again—this time with purpose instead of panic—and I finally graduated.

That experience stayed with me.

It’s why I’ve spent the last 25+ years working with doctoral candidates. It’s why I care so deeply about clarity, alignment, and ethical support. And it’s why I created the Qualitative Dissertation Coach—to help ensure that capable, hardworking scholars don’t stall or suffer simply because the process is opaque or the guidance is insufficient.

I know what it feels like to be told you’re “doing it wrong” without being shown how to do it right. I also know that with the right support, structure, and understanding, dissertations are finishable.

If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure whether it’s you or the process—I’ve been there. And this Coach exists so you don’t have to navigate it alone.

— Asher Beckwitt, PhD