As a peer-reviewed journal, the continued growth and success of the European Journal of Counselling Psychology (EJCoP) is very much dependent on our carefully selected team of expert reviewers. We are continually working to strengthen our reviewer team to include experts on a wide variety of issues, issues which are not necessarily limited or specific to counselling psychology, but which may inform practice in a valuable way.
Our reviewers work with us to uphold and further advance the integrity and quality of the journal by providing authors with quality feedback, recognising invalid research, and helping to prevent ethical breaches through the identification of research fraud. This work is especially important as it contributes to advancing the understanding and application of counselling psychology. It also ensures that our authors receive feedback of high quality, and that published research is valid, current and reliable.
Below is some information on becoming a reviewer, the peer-review process, reviewer recognition, and peer review training.
Becoming a Reviewer
Being part of a peer-review process can be highly rewarding. It can greatly enhance your own research, and help to further your career. In addition, the role can provide you with an opportunity to exert positive influence on your area of research, raising awareness and standards of practice across Europe. You can find some more information on how peer-reviewers can gain recognition for their contributions below.
The EJCoP is currently accepting new reviewers. If you are an expert in a field of research relevant to counselling psychology, and would like to become a reviewer for the EJCoP, send an email to ejcop.contact@gmail.com.
The Peer-Review Process
Upon submission, all of our manuscripts undergo an initial screening. This is carried out by our editorial team and involves a very brief check of the manuscript to ensure it meets the following criteria:
- Is it legible?
- Is it a research paper?
- Is it interesting?
- Is it relevant to the practice of counselling psychology?
- Is it relevant to a European readership?
If the manuscript does meet the criteria, our editorial team then proceed to invite two reviewers, who have specialties in the research area in question, to each carry out a blind review on the manuscript. If you are selected as one of these, you will receive an email invitation to carry out the review, from us, which you can choose to accept or decline. Upon acceptance of the invitation, you will be asked to provide detailed feedback on the manuscript including suggested areas for improvement (a list of questions will be provided to prompt your review). You will also be required to provide a recommendation on whether you think the article should be declined, accepted, or whether you suggest improvements be made by the author prior to acceptance. In this case, the author will be required to make the necessary amendments to their manuscript, which will then be sent back to you for a second round, and so on, until the manuscript meets the required standard.
Once the blind peer review has been completed, the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Marios Argyrides, will make a final decision on whether or not the manuscript is accepted for publication. If accepted, the manuscript will undergo some final English language and formatting checks prior to its publication.
Note: if you choose to accept an invitation to review, you will be required to make an account with Scholastica, where all communication will take place. Further details and guidance will be provided upon acceptance.
Reviewer Recognition
At the EJCoP, we are working very hard to ensure you receive the recognition you deserve for your contribution to the journal. We currently offer reviewer certificates which are available upon request. Additionally, we are in the process of establishing a partnership with Publons, the world’s largest peer-review platform. Publons offers researchers across the world the chance to demonstrate their peer-review and editorial work for journals worldwide. As a reviewer for the EJCoP, you will soon be able to display your contributions via your Publons profile.
Note: recognition is given regardless of whether or not the manuscript is accepted for publication.
Peer-Review Training
If this is your first time reviewing, or you’d like to improve your reviewing skills, we recommend Publons’ free, credible peer review training course. This course is highly recommended for all reviewers; it offers interactive training through videos, presentations, activities, mentoring, and expert examples. You will also receive a certificate from Publons.