Information For Authors

 

Interested in submitting to this journal? We recommend that you review the About the Journal page for the journal's policies, as well as the Submission Guidelines and  Author Guidelines.  Please pay particular attention to the 'checklist' and 'author guidelines' which offer information about how to layout the article and the APA format referencing system you need to use. If your submission does not follow the guidelines, your article may be rejected with an invitation to resubmit.

The Editor (Professor Nollaig Frost, nollaig.frost@ucc.ie) can also offer some extra guidance, so feel free to contact her if you would like to discuss a possible submission. 

Authors need to register with the journal prior to submitting or, if already registered, you can simply log in and begin the five-step process. By submitting your manuscript electronically through the Manuscript Submission Portal, you will be able to track its progress through the system.  

The mission of the European Journal for Qualitative Research in Psychotherapy (EJQRP) is to provide an accessible forum for research that advances the theory and practice of psychotherapy. We are keen to promote practice-based qualitative research and we are interested in any psychotherapeutic practice taking place in Europe and internationally. We welcome contributions from diverse methodological and theoretical standpoints, as well as relevant literature reviews, critical explorations of methodology and philosophical research. Submissions of qualitative empirical research examples are particularly encouraged.

If you have difficulty using the online system for submitting articles, please contact the Editor (Professor Nollaig Frost - nollaig.frost@ucc.ie).

Manuscripts will be accepted/rejected based on their quality, interest and suitability for readers. Papers submitted to the EJQRP will be subject to a double-blind process where possible. The Editor will decide which reviewers are most appropriate when sending particular manuscripts out for review. Reviews will be conducted by appropriate Editorial Board members or other relevant peer reviewers. Blind copies of manuscripts will be sent to reviewers whenever possible and reviewer comments will remain anonymous to ensure a fair review process. 

Finally, you may find it helpful in your writing to consider the following 5 'Golden Rules' for academic writing:

1) Be selective and focused - If you are writing an article based on your Masters or Doctoral thesis, avoid trying to report on the whole piece of work. Instead, try to construct an article on particular aspects of interest. For instance, you might focus selectively on three key themes. Remember you can always write other articles!

2) Find an interesting 'hook' and try to capture the reader's interest - What would readers of articles in this particular journal be interested in?  Will you be suggesting something which will help their practice? Is there some particular problem or debate which your research taps into?  Use that to set up the rationale for your article.  

3) Write for the readership of the particular journal you're aiming to submit to - The readership determines both the level and type of content wanted.  For our journal, we are interested in a practice orientation. Many of our readers do not have an academic background.  English is not the first language of many of our readers, so writing clearly becomes even more important. Aim for readability instead of being complicated, academic or jargon filled.

4) Follow the journal guidelines precisely - Instructions are given for submission procedures including how to lay out the article, the use of APA system of referencing etc. (See the 'author guidelines'). If you're in doubt or unclear, please feel free to contact the Editor to discuss any questions.

5)  Work on your writing style and expression - Try to avoid boring, over-jargonised writing and, instead, try to write in more lively ways.  The use of metaphors/imagery can help, for example.  It can also help to check out those articles which you have found interesting and readable as opposed to those which are dry, dull and dreary. How did the author achieve making their article interesting? And, remember, that it always helps to have someone else edit your final draft.