FOCUS GROUP FORM

Your Opportunity to Share Your Thoughts and Have Your Voice Heard

Your Voice is Important

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Thank you for contributing your thoughts. This form is completely anonymous. Your responses will help us understand the lived experience of PhD students and how we can improve belonging, support, and equity in academic life.

Please share openly and honestly.

You do not need to answer every question.

Every contribution is valued.

Please practice self-care and compassion at all times. Know your boundaries and respect them. If you want to explore or talk through any issues outside of your institution, BARDO Inclusive recommends Helen Pope Counselling. Alternatively, your EDI department and the Support and Report Tool are good places to seek advice and guidance.

Anonymity & Confidentiality

Your thoughts will remain completely anonymous. The form does not collect your name, email, or any identifying details. Responses will only be read by BARDO Inclusive consultant and will be used to spot patterns and themes — not to single out individuals.

Being identified

We do not track names, emails, or IP addresses. We want your insights, not your name.

Impact on your studies or career

Your responses will never be shared with supervisors, examiners, or the institution in a way that could affect you.

Sensitive experiences

You are welcome to share only what you feel comfortable with. Every response is valued, whether brief or detailed.

The aim is better to understand the challenges and strengths of the PhD experience so we can recommend positive, practical changes.

Focus Group Themes and Questions

First name

Last name

Email

PART 1: Coaching Outcome Discovery

Before we explore how your brain currently approaches change, let's identify what you want to achieve.

What is the most important change you want from coaching?

If, other, outline what here.

If coaching is successful, what will be different in six months?

What has stopped you achieving this so far?

On a scale of 1-10, how important is this change?

On a scale of 1-10, how confident are you that change is possible?

PART 2: The NeuroGrowth Diagnostic

Please ensure you answer each qestion HONESTLY not based on what you would like to think you would do, but what you actually do. Change only happens through genunie self-reflection. And there is NO judgement here.

Score each statement from:

1 = Strongly Disagree

2 = Disagree

3 = Sometimes

4 = Agree

5 = Strongly Agree

The questions are set around the following domains:

RE:SET

Awareness – You cannot change what you cannot see.
Brain Safety – The brain must feel safe before it can grow.

RE:FRAME

Motivation – Change needs a reason that genuinely matters.
Cognitive Flexibility – New thinking creates new possibilities, and removes unconscious blocking patterns of thinking.
Emotional Regulation – Master emotions, don't be mastered by them.

RE:BUILD

Action Orientation – Insight only matters when it becomes action.
Reinforcement – What you repeat, your brain strengthens.
Identity Integration – Lasting change happens when growth becomes part of who you are.

RE:SET

Domain 1: Awareness

Do I understand my current patterns?

Understanding your current patterns is the first step towards changing them.

Domain 2: Brain Safety

Does my nervous system feel safe enough to change?

Growth happens when your brain feels safe enough to embrace uncertainty and challenge.

RE:FRAME

Domain 3: Motivation

Is my brain genuinely committed?

Meaningful and lasting change requires a compelling reason to act otherwise your brain will just default to keeping you safe.

Domain 4: Cognitive Flexibility

Can I think differently?

The ability to see new possibilities creates opportunities for growth.

Domain 5: Emotional Regulation

Can I manage emtional interference?

Managing emotions effectively helps you respond intentionally rather than react automatically.

RE:BUILD

Domain 6: Action Orientation

Do I convert insight into behaviour?

Change occurs when insight is translated into consistent action.

Domain 7: Reinforcement

Does my brain strengthen new pathways?

Repeated behaviours strengthen the neural pathways that support lasting change.

Domain 8: Identity Integration

Is the new behaviour becoming part of me?

Sustainable transformation happens when new behaviours become part of who you believe yourself to be.

Any other comments or thoughts?

Please share any other comments or thoughts that you would like me to know about. I look forward to meeting you and working with you on your growth journey.

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