The TravelDocta LLC

Travel Agents/Advisors work with individuals on a trip-by-trip basis – during the planning and execution phases of a trip – to fulfill immediate travel desires, with a focus on logistics (e.g., booking flights, hotels, tours). Trips are often planned as a one-time transaction, and are generally driven by client preferences, popular destinations, and what is available through travel suppliers.

Travel Coaches go beyond logistics to help clients focus on the intent of their travel (i.e., ensuring that travel experiences [including destinations] are aligned with mental, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being). They focus on building long-term relationships with clients with the objective of working with the client before, during, and after a trip. Travel Coaches engage in highly personalized approaches to travel that allow clients to explore their personal goals and desires, and identify and help clients push beyond challenges that could impact their travel. A Travel Coach also sees/uses travel as a tool for transformation, guiding clients through self-discovery for ongoing self-care/wellness and personal growth/development, with a potential for expanding this process/experience to other life goals and future travel.

I help Black Professional Women focus on themselves, to expand beyond their Professional Identity, and enhance their Travel Identity – one international trip at a time. As a Black Professional Woman, I have been subjected to stereotypes (e.g., having to work harder than others to prove my value/worth; feeling compelled to put others’ needs above my own; having unfair expectations and biased assumptions placed on me that are not placed on others [3]), and traveling internationally has always been an outlet for me to elevate above stereotypes and assumptions. I also have limited time off and have found successful ways to maximize that time, which allows me to enjoy myself, and return refreshed and ready to work. I help others do the same in the following ways:

• I help Black Professional Women find ways to give themselves permission to prioritize themselves, take time off, and overcome barriers/hurdles, with a goal to enhance their Travel Identity, and return to work refreshed, recharged, and reset;
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• I help Black Professional Women determine how they can maximize their limited time off and have a rewarding, fulfilling international trip (including the importance/benefits of planning ahead; tips for optimal travel; itinerary design; travel skill building; mindset shifts; accountability; managing overwhelming information to facilitate travel decision-making, and more);
  
• I help Black Professional Women identify what they want to get out of a trip, mapping out a step-by-step process to help them identify the best trip to go on (e.g., location and what to do on the trip), that provides them with the feeling, outcome, result, and/or transformation that they are looking for;
  
• I help Black Professional Women break down barriers, and think outside of the box to book their desired international trip (including providing information about travel resources) that meets their needs and desires, and allows them to protect their peace upon their return.

My experiences as a Black Professional Woman are not unique to me. My drive and desire to create my own experiences are a reflection of who I am as a person and what I want in my life. That is also not unique to me. However, many of my Black Professional Women counterparts don’t feel like they can do this for themselves, even though there is evidence that taking breaks (including travel) has many benefits [4]. As a person who has “been there, done that,” I have the skills and the desire to help other Black Professional Women explore who they are outside of work, and Elevate their international travel experiences to enhance their Travel Identity, helping them live their best lives!

Once you have made a decision to invite me on your travel journey, we will meet for virtual one-hour, 1-on-1 coaching sessions, 2-4 times per month through the planning process. Each session will focus on what type of experience you want to have, setting goals to set you up for successful international travel, identifying how to attain those goals, giving you tasks to work on between sessions to set you up for success with accomplishing your goals, and preparing you to design and book your travel. There will also be the potential for check-ins during your trip, and a planned session to review and reflect on your experience upon your return. Please note that The TravelDocta is not a travel agent and, therefore, will not book travel for any clients. However, discussion about travel resources is included in the coaching process, and recommendations for the best ways to book travel will be provided.

The sessions are designed to be one-on-one, but you are welcome to include one travel partner for an additional cost.

Coaching services can be purchased separately or as a package as follows:

One-hour coaching session with one participant: $130
One-hour coaching session with two participants: $160
Package of 4, one-hour coaching sessions with one participant: $500
Package of 4, one-hour coaching sessions with two participants: $650
Extended session time: $25 per quarter hour

You will be provided with a PayPal link to process your payment.

Sessions will be scheduled ahead of time, and should be cancelled at least 12 hours before the session start time. Sessions will happen via Zoom, and any cancellations with less than 12 hours advanced notice will be assessed a missed appointment fee as follows:

$130 for individuals who are paying per session
$160 for two participants who are paying per session)
Forfeiture of one session for each missed session for those who have purchased a package

As a Black Professional Woman myself, I know the unique needs that we have. I also know that there are barriers to travel – including barriers to giving ourselves permission to travel. I want to provide a platform to help other Black Professional Women meet their own needs, and rise above stereotypes that impede our willingness to take time off. [The term “Black Professional Woman” is defined as any individual who identifies as black, identifies as a woman, and who is college-educated and working in a full-time salaried position with a measure of autonomy, as defined by Harris-LaMothe (2013)]

According to “Solo Female Travel on Rise” (2015), the age group of 45+ makes up 55% of the female solo travel population. As a member of the 45+ age group, it is important to me to encourage my counterparts to exercise their power of choice, stretch their travel muscles, and enhance their Travel Identity to explore the world and expand beyond their comfort zone.

I aim to empower other BPW to prioritize themselves, rise above stereotypes and assumptions, protect their peace, and accomplish this by maximizing short-term international travel.

By starting early and being intentional about planning, The TravelDocta will provide you with tips about the best time to travel to different countries (e.g., Shoulder Season travel), ways to maximize travel to surrounding countries (e.g., [long] layover tours), resources to use to set yourself up for successful international travel, and so much more!

The most often cited barriers to travel for Black Professional Women (BPW) are lack of time off, and family and other commitments [5]. In addition, there is often an expectation that women prioritize caregiving, even on vacation [6], and still other BPW feel like they cannot afford to be away from work due to the expectations that are placed on them to demonstrate their worth in the professional environment (e.g., working harder to prove themselves to be equal [7]). There is also a concern about how other cultures may perceive Black Women [8]. The TravelDocta focuses on identifying the barriers that may be impeding goal-setting, identifying ways to overcome those barriers, and establishing objectives that are specific and realistic, setting the Black Professional Women up for successful international travel. Requesting time off well in advance, taking shorter trips, finding a balance between travel and other commitments, and learning how to help others respectfully understand your unapologetic self can be ways to overcome barriers. A Travel Coach is uniquely qualified to guide this process, and The TravelDocta works with individuals to successfully Elevate above barriers.

Similarly to the barriers indicated above, there are several consistent stereotypes that BPW experience, which may impact our ability to give ourselves permission to take time for ourselves and/or travel internationally. Some of these include that Black Women are seen as having to be self-sacrificing [9], and face unfair expectations, challenges, and biased assumptions with regard to our role in the workplace [10]. In addition, the work that Black Women do is often devalued [11], requiring them to feel the need to work harder than others and be resilient, often denying our own needs in order to prioritize the needs of others [12]. As a Travel Coach who has had to manage similar stereotypes, I will work with you to identify the impact that these experiences have on you, and guide you towards a travel experience that can help you reclaim your sense of self, building reinforcements to protect your peace upon your return.

The Travel Coach Network is the premier organization through which an individual can become a Certified Travel Coach. You can check them out here*: https://thetravelcoachnetwork.mykajabi.com/a/30752/puNwRoS2

*The TravelDocta LLC is an affiliate of The Travel Coach Network