Editorial Policy

The International Journal of Counseling and Applied Psychology (IJCAP) upholds the principles of editorial independence, academic integrity, and transparency in the management of submitted manuscripts. The journal is committed to ensuring a fair, efficient, and ethical editorial process, guided by the standards of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and international best practices.

1. Editorial Independence

  • The Editor-in-Chief has full authority over editorial content, including manuscript acceptance and rejection decisions.
  • Decisions are based solely on the scholarly merit, originality, clarity, and relevance of the manuscript, independent of the authors’ institutional affiliations, nationality, religion, gender, or political beliefs.
  • The editorial team and publisher guarantee that commercial interests, sponsorships, or advertising do not influence editorial decisions.

2. Peer Review Process

  • All submitted manuscripts undergo an initial screening by the editorial office to ensure compliance with the journal’s aims, scope, and submission guidelines.
  • Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are subjected to a double-blind peer-review process, where both authors and reviewers remain anonymous.
  • Each manuscript is reviewed by at least two independent reviewers who are experts in the relevant field.
  • Reviewers are selected based on expertise, impartiality, and absence of conflict of interest.
  • The editorial board ensures timely review and decision-making to maintain publication efficiency.

3. Editorial Board Responsibilities

  • Provide strategic direction for the journal and ensure its alignment with international academic standards.
  • Assist in attracting high-quality submissions and promoting the journal to scholarly communities.
  • Contribute to peer-review, policy development, and special issues as required.
  • Ensure diversity in the composition of the editorial board, with representation from different regions and academic traditions.

4. Transparency and Conflict of Interest

  • All editorial staff, authors, and reviewers must disclose potential conflicts of interest that could influence their work.
  • Editors will recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists.
  • Any financial, institutional, or personal relationship that may affect judgment must be declared.

5. Ethical Compliance

  • The editorial team ensures that all manuscripts comply with ethical standards in research, including informed consent, confidentiality, and institutional approval when applicable.
  • All submissions are checked for plagiarism using reliable similarity detection software (e.g., Turnitin/iThenticate). Manuscripts exceeding the acceptable similarity threshold will be returned or rejected.
  • The editorial office follows COPE flowcharts in handling allegations of misconduct, disputes, and ethical concerns.

6. Editorial Decisions

  • Final decisions on manuscripts rest with the Editor-in-Chief, based on reviewers’ recommendations and the editorial board’s advice.
  • Possible editorial decisions include: accept, accept with minor revisions, revise and resubmit, or reject.
  • Appeals against editorial decisions are considered if supported by strong evidence and must be submitted in writing to the editorial office.

7. Editorial Transparency and Accountability

  • The journal publishes clear information about its editorial policies, processes, and ethical guidelines on its official website.
  • The editorial team ensures accountability by maintaining records of editorial decisions and review reports.
  • The journal periodically reviews and updates its editorial policy in line with evolving best practices and international standards.