Online Coaching for Doctoral Students
Are you a doctoral student at the University of Bonn and in a difficult phase of your PhD project? Do you need help and suggestions to overcome it? Then you have come to the right place!
Upcoming dates:
- January 30, 2026 (Prof. Dr. Martin Zierold)
- February 25, 2026 (Dr. Majana Beckmann)
- March 20, 2026 (Prof. Dr. Martin Zierold)
What is coaching and how can it help?
Coaching Teaser
Bild © BGZ / YouTube
Possible coaching topics
- Overcoming difficulties in writing the doctoral thesis
- Constructive handling of conflicts
- Self-management in everyday doctoral studies
- Clarification and strengthening of one's own role as a doctoral student
- Stress management, burn-out prophylaxis
- Preparation for challenging situations
- Dealing with biographical transitions: Study/doctorate and preparation for the time after the doctorate
- Dealing with self-doubts and insecurities
- Doubts about the doctorate
I need further advice. What can I do?
An overview of the psychological and social counseling offers at the University of Bonn as well as further information can be found here:
Our offer
- One day a month you can book one of a total of four 90-minute slots in which you can discuss your concerns online with our coaches.
- The coaching is offered in both German and English.
- Our offer targets doctoral students in all phases of their doctorate and is free of charge.
- It is a one-time coaching offer and not an accompanying coaching.
- The doctoral coaching sessions are carried out exclusively by coaches with expertise in academia who can relate to the specific concerns and issues doctoral students face.
- All processes are strictly confidential.
© colourbox
© colourbox
What is coaching?
Coaching is a goal- and process-oriented dialogical process. The clients are seen as experts for their concerns and their individual background, so no ready-made solutions are presented. Rather, clients are supported in developing and implementing their own individual solutions during the coaching session. This happens, for example, through a change of perspective, the recognition of patterns, a deeper understanding of the problem in dialogic exchange or the awareness of one's own resources.
Registration
Book your online coaching appointment now!
Our coaches
Dr. Majana Beckmann
Advisory focus and profile
Advisory focus:
- Reconciling doctorate and family
- Manage task diversity and structure yourself
- Overcome writer's block and procrastination phases
- Deal with low motivation, crises and self-doubt
- As an introverted scientist, use your strengths consciously
- Keep your nerves in the final phase
- Approach the disputation confidently and well prepared
Profile:
- Coach for doctoral students, systemic consultant, emTrace®-Coach, Feminist Coach®, author, mother of three children
- PhD in linguistics. Studies of General Linguistics, English and Romance Languages in Osnabrück and Southampton
- Several years of experience in academic teaching, in media and university didactic consulting as well as in adult education
- Self-employed coach and trainer with a focus on doctoral studies since 2018
- Owner of KLARwärts; coaching for doctoral students (https://www.klarwaerts-coaching.de) and zartherzig; coaching for highly sensitive women (https://www.zartherzig-coaching.de)
Dr. Taiya Mikisch
Advisory focus and profile
Advisory Focus:
- Mindfulness and resilience as key features for navigating the academic field
- Mindfulness techniques as tools for stress management and self-care during the doctoral phase: assessing one’s individual capacities realistically, establishing body awareness, supporting health-promoting behaviour, dealing well with acute stress
- Establishing resource-orientation
- Defining values and purpose of one’s work to help navigate professional decisions and prioritize tasks well
- Dealing with imposter-experiences, finding a healthy attitude towards mistakes and failures
- Easing perfectionism and self criticism through mindful self-compassion
Profile:
- Freelance resilience- and mindfulness trainer in the academic field
- Doctorate in dance studies
- Long term experience in the academic field
- Supporting doctoral students from different universities and research institutions
- Qualifications in the facilitation methods Theory U and Social Presencing Theater by Otto Scharmer and Arawana Hayashi
- Trainer of MBST 1.0, a mindfulness program developed for students by Achtsam.Digital/Achtsame Hochschulen
Prof. Dr. Martin Zierold
Advisory focus and profile
Advisory focus:
- What comes after graduation: career paths inside and outside the university
- Professional goals: developing perspectives, formulating personal goals and needs
- Clarify conflicts in supervision and elsewhere
- Self-care and self-control: dealing with crises & dilemmas
- Self-management and self-organization: from time management to time sovereignty
- Shaping change and bringing it to success
- Communication and leadership, working in teams
Profile:
- Professor for cultural management at the HfMT (Hochschule für Musik und Theater Hamburg) with focus on organizational development & strategy
- Practical experience in culture, media, foundations and science management
- PhD in communication science
- Certified coach (systemic coaching and change management, ineko institute at the University of Cologne)
- Freelance coach, trainer and consultant since 2010
