GUIDELINES FOR AUTHORS

The Journal of Professional Counseling: Practice, Theory, and Research is a semi-annual publication seeking to advance clinical, theoretical, and empirical knowledge in counseling and psychotherapy. The journal invites manuscripts that are directed to the mutual interests of counselors and personnel workers in schools, colleges, community agencies, and government agencies. Especially welcome is stimulating writing dealing with: (a) practical and unique applications of counseling techniques in schools and clinical settings, (b) significant quantitative and qualitative research, (c) critical integrations of published research, (d) theoretical and social policy, and (e) scholarly reviews of professional materials.

1. Send and original and three clear copies of all material:

Articles: Manuscripts should not exceed 4,000 words. There is not a lower limit; a subject line should seek its own limit.
Dialogues: Dialogues should take the form of verbatim exchange among two or more people, either oral or by correspondence. Dialogues are subject to the same length limitation as articles.
Sharing: Manuscripts should briefly report on or describe new practices, experimental programs, innovative techniques, and personal reflections.
Responding: Letter to the Editor and other responses intended for this section should be as short as possible, preferably under 300 words.
Reviewing: Reviews of a new book, a recent article in a professional journal, a new test or inventory are encouraged.

2. Manuscripts should be well-organized and concise so that the development of ideas is logical. Avoid dull stereotyped writing, and aim to communicate ideas clearly and interestingly to a readership composed mainly of practitioners.

3. Include a capsule statement (abstract) of 100 words or less with each copy of the manuscript. The statement should express the central idea of the article in non-technical language and should engage the reader’s interest. Type on a separate sheet.

4. For quantitative research, estimates of effect size should be addressed along with interpretations of practical significance.

5. For qualitative research, issues of trustworthiness with respect to the credibility, transferability, and confirmability of the analysis is required.

6. Avoid footnotes wherever possible.

7. Shorten article titles so that they do not exceed 50 letters and spaces.

8. Author’s name with position, title, and place of employment should appear only on the cover page.

9. Double-space all material, including references.

10. References should follow the style described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition, 2009.

11. Never submit manuscripts that are under consideration by another periodical.

12. Submit all manuscripts to: Rick Balkin, Richard.Balkin@tamucc.edu. Manuscripts will be acknowledged upon receipt. Following preliminary review by the editor, they will be sent – with your name deleted – to three members of the editorial board. In all correspondence, please include your email address.

13. Upon acceptance for publication, authors may be requested to provide both a hard copy of their manuscript (final version) and an additional electronic copy sent as an attachment, preferably in Microsoft Word format. Do not send electronic copies until requested to do so. Final copies should include the authors’ biographical information (#8).

Manuscripts not accepted after review will be returned for revision, or rejected as unacceptable for the journal.

[Permission was obtained from the American Counseling Association to adapt the "Guidelines for Authors" published in the Journal of Professional Counseling: Practice, Theory, and Research.]

Last Updated: August 17, 2009