EDITORIAL DECISION-MAKING POLICY

The International Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy (IJCP) employs a rigorous and transparent double-blind peer-review process to maintain the highest standards of academic quality. This process is conducted by qualified researchers and scholars in relevant fields. All submitted manuscripts are processed and selected by the journal's editorial team and reviewed by the peer reviewer to ensure the quality of the manuscripts published.

The editorial workflow ensures that all submitted manuscripts are evaluated fairly, objectively, and consistently. A summary of the editorial decision-making process is illustrated in the flowchart below:

Time to First Decision Review Time Submission to Acceptance Acceptance to Publication
1-2 Weeks 2-10 Weeks 2-10 Weeks 1-2 Weeks

The editorial decision-making process at the International Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy (IJCP) is based on the principles of transparency, fairness, academic rigor, and a strong commitment to ethical standards in scholarly publishing. This process ensures that every manuscript is evaluated objectively and thoroughly, from initial submission to final editorial decision.

The editorial team develops and regularly reviews decision-making policies to support the ongoing development of the journal. These policies reflect the principles of transparency, objectivity, fairness, and editorial independence, and are reviewed annually by the editorial collective and board, with updates made as needed.

  • Editorial Independence: IJCP confirms that editorial decisions are made independently and are not affected by advertising, reprint revenue, or external institutional funding. All manuscripts are evaluated solely on the basis of academic merit, scientific quality, and relevance to the journal’s scope, regardless of financial support or affiliations.
  • Commitment to Ethical Publishing: IJCP is fully dedicated to maintaining ethical publishing practices. Each manuscript is handled with impartiality, academic rigor, and compliance with international ethical standards. Any revenue generated by the journal is used exclusively to support its mission as a high-quality, inclusive, open-access platform for the global scholarly community.

Editorial Decision-Making Workflow:
1. Manuscript Submission and Initial Screening:
Upon submission, manuscripts are screened by the Editor-in-Chief or a designated editor to ensure: a) Alignment with the journal’s aims and scope; b) Compliance with formatting, submission, and ethical standards; c) Absence of academic misconduct such as plagiarism. Outcome: a) Manuscripts that do not meet these criteria are desk rejected; b) Eligible manuscripts proceed to the next stage

2. Assignment to an Editor:
Qualified manuscripts are assigned to a section or associate editor, who manages the peer review process and prepares an editorial recommendation.

3. Peer Review Process:
IJCP uses a double-blind peer review system. Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent reviewers based on: a) Originality and scholarly contribution; b) Methodological soundness; c) Relevance to the field; d) Clarity of expression and presentation quality.

4. Editorial Evaluation of Reviews:
The assigned editor reviews the feedback from reviewers and submits a preliminary recommendation to the Editor-in-Chief, considering: a) Reviewer reports; b) Editorial judgment; c) Journal standards and policies. Possible editorial decisions include: a) Accept; b) Minor Revision; c) Major Revision; d) Reject

The Editor-in-Chief holds the final responsibility for all editorial decisions. Financial, political, or personal relationships will not influence the editorial decision-making process. Authors are notified of the editorial decision along with reviewer comments to ensure transparency. Appeals against editorial decisions are allowed and will be handled through an independent review process.

5. Communication with Authors:
Authors are notified of the editorial decision and receive reviewer comments along with revision instructions if applicable. Revised manuscripts must include a point-by-point response letter addressing all reviewer and editor comments.

6. Revisions and Re-review:
Revised manuscripts are re-evaluated by the original reviewers and/or the handling editor. A new recommendation is made based on the adequacy and quality of the revisions.

7. Final Decision and Acceptance:
The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision. Accepted manuscripts move forward to production, which includes copyediting, layout, and scheduling.

8. Appeals:
Authors may appeal a rejection by submitting a formal request with justification to the Editor-in-Chief. Appeals are reviewed by an independent panel of editorial board members. The panel’s decision is final.

9. Publication Scheduling:
Accepted manuscripts are scheduled for publication according to editorial planning. IJCP does not offer early online publication. Authors are informed when their manuscript enters production.

The purpose of the Editorial Decision-Making Policy at the International Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy (IJCP) is to ensure that every submitted manuscript undergoes a transparent, objective, and consistent evaluation process. This policy is designed to uphold high academic and ethical standards through rigorous initial screening, appropriate editor assignment, and the implementation of an independent and thorough double-blind peer review system. Through careful editorial evaluation and clear communication with authors, the policy supports the improvement of manuscript quality prior to the final publication decision. Additionally, it provides a fair appeals mechanism and a structured publication scheduling process, promoting the journal’s development as a credible and professional open-access scholarly platform.