We encourage ISTDP clinicians and researchers across the world to contribute to the journal! Please read through the following information before you submit your manuscript to us.
ISSUES & DEADLINES
ISSUE #5 –
Deadline for draft: January 1st 2026
Publication: June 2026
ISSUE #6 –
Deadline for draft: August 1st 2026
Publication: December 2026
ISSUE #7 –
Deadline for draft: January 1st 2027
Publication: June 2027
SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
What we publish
We’re a hybrid-content journal aiming to diversify our articles beyond traditional academic research often found in academic journals. Our mission is to bridge the gap between clinical practice and research within the ISTDP community and publish both academic papers and more informal materials. We seek to open up publication space that’s traditionally been exclusive to academics and PhDs, encouraging therapists to contribute their experiences, ideas, and creativity.
Article types
At the moment (2026), we manage three different kinds of articles in the journal:
- Research type: This is the standard scientific article of the journal. These articles should hold a high academic quality throughout. Within this rubric, we publish original research, theory, and review (Max 10000 words). These articles should have the following format: 1) Abstract, 2) Introduction, 3) Relevant subsections, 4) Discussion.
- Theory & practice type: This is the standard clinical article of the journal. These articles zoom in on the clinical work. Within this rubric, we publish contemporary accounts of transcribed sessions and case studies (Max 8000 words). These articles should have the following format: 1) Abstract, 2) Introduction, 3) Relevant subsections, 4) Discussion
- Comments, arts, debate: This is a shorter format that allows authors to provide briefer communication about theory, clinical observations, debate, arts and more. These articles can be scholarly or more of a reflective, artistic kind (Max 3000 words). In the latter case, abstract, literature review and references can be held to a minimum or omitted entirely. These articles should have the following format: 1) Abstract, 2) Relevant subsections.
Language and formatting
All articles should be written in English. Please use digital tools to make sure spelling and grammar is accurate. All submissions should furthermore be formatted according to the 7th edition of the APA Publication manual. You can find APA resources here: https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/resources/manuscript-submission-guidelines
Ethical principles
The JCI adheres to the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in scholarly publishing.
- Conflicts of Interest: All authors are required to disclose any financial or personal relationships with individuals or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work at the time of submission.
- Patient Privacy & Informed Consent: JCI prioritizes the safety and anonymity of patients. For any article containing clinical case material, session transcripts, or identifiable patient details, authors must obtain written informed consent from the patient(s) or their legal guardians (See JCI Patient consent to publication form below on this page). Anonymity must be rigorously protected through the de-identification of names, locations, and specific life details.
- Research Ethics & Oversight: For prospective research involving human subjects, authors must confirm that the study was approved by an appropriate Institutional Review Board (IRB) or local ethics committee. Approval details, including the name of the board and permit number, must be reported within the manuscript.
- Data Availability: To promote scientific transparency, authors of research articles are encouraged to make their raw data available. Data should be accessible at request during the editorial process and archived in a way that allows for verification for at least 5 years post-publication, subject to patient confidentiality restrictions.
- Plagiarism & Originality: JCI employs a zero-tolerance policy regarding plagiarism. All manuscripts are screened for originality. Submission to JCI implies that the work has not been published elsewhere and is not under consideration by another journal.
- AI Policy: The use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the writing process must be disclosed in the cover letter upon submission. AI tools cannot be listed as authors.
Author contribution statements
All articles are to provide a statement on the role of the different authors, describing their individual contributions to the work. Please follow the CRediT taxonomy: https://credit.niso.org/contributor-roles-defined/
Cover letter and masked review
Please provide a masked/anonymous copy of your manuscript, and put all the author identifying information in a cover letter that accompanies the submission. If you’re unsure if you’ve removed all identifying information, you can find different guides by doing a google search for the terms “removing personal data from Word”.
Review process and resubmission
If we accept your article for review, you will eventually be provided with anonymous peer reviews. The editorial team will also provide reviews and comments on the text. Sometimes the process is straight-forward and just a few back and forths are necessary, in other instances there will be a large number of issues to be solved, and thus a long process of reworking the manuscript. When resubmitting the final version of your article, please provide a letter with a detailed description of how you incorporated the feedback received, a so-called point-by-point letter.
Bio and photography
We prioritize highlighting authors as individuals by requesting photos and brief bios for some article types. JCI’s mission is to unite ISTDP therapists globally, combating professional isolation. We ask authors to share personal information to humanize their work and build connections. Photos should be high resolution in order to look good in print format.
Templates
Available at the bottom of this page.
Submission
Please send the article by email to the editor-in-chief. Title the email “JCI SUBMISSION”. The email should include the following attachments (see templates at bottom of this page):
- Submission checklist
- Cover letter
- Masked article text
- Portrait photos of authors
Questions
Please reach out to one of the editors if you have questions about submissions.
RESOURCES
- JCI Author guideline version 3.1 (pdf)
- JCI Review guideline version 2.1 (pdf)
- JCI Patient consent to publication form (pdf)