Submission Guidelines
The American Psychotherapy Association® is seeking well-written articles that discuss therapists’ innovative work, case studies, and research findings, complete with references, for publication in the Annals of the American Psychotherapy AssociationSM. Please review past issues of the journal to become familiar with the quality of work we publish.
Manuscripts must meet the following guidelines:
- If possible, the article should be at least 4,000 words in length, but please do not lengthen the article to meet this requirement, as it will be detected by the editor and reviewers.
- Be in Microsoft Word 2003, 2007, or 2008 format. Please double-space the document and create a one-inch margin on all sides.
- Include a title page with the article title and the author’s name, degree, and affiliation.
- Include a one-paragraph biography of the author at the beginning of the manuscript.
- Include an article abstract of no more than 150 words.
- Include a list of three to five (3–5) key words that expresses the precise content of the manuscript (used for indexing purposes), positioned immediately following the abstract.
- Include a list of at least three (3–5) observable and measurable learning objectives that covers the main points of the manuscript, positioned immediately following the key words.
- Include a minimum of eight (8) multiple-choice test questions that adequately cover the material highlighted in the learning objectives (used to offer continuing education credit through journal learning). Please indicate the correct answer to each question.
- Articles that are submitted with photographs and tables will receive priority publication once accepted.
Illustrations and photos (including drawings, diagrams, and charts) must be numbered in one consecutive series of Arabic numerals. Type the captions for illustrations on a separate page. Digital photos should have a minimum 300 dpi resolution, be saved in .jpeg, .tif, or. tiff format, and e-mailed to the editor. If you must mail photos, please send large, glossy, high-contrast prints. Identify figures on the back of each print with the author’s name and the number of the illustration, if applicable.
Tables must be numbered and referred to by number in the text. Each table should be typed on a separate page. Center the title above the table, and type explanatory footnotes (preferably indicated by superscript lowercase letters) below the table.
References and their text citations should be in the style of the American Psychological Association (APA style). For more information please see the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition.
Avoid footnotes.
Prior to submitting a manuscript for peer review:
- Check the manuscript for content and style (correct spelling, punctuation and grammar; accuracy and consistency in the citation of figures, tables, and references; stylistic uniformity of entries in the references section; etc.). Manuscripts containing numerous typos or errors will be returned to the author for revision before they are submitted for peer review.
- Ensure that all required sections of the manuscript are completed (abstract, bio, key words, learning objectives, multiple-choice questions).
- Send the manuscript and any accompanying photographs and tables, via e-mail editor@americanpsychotherapy.com. If necessary, accompanying materials, such as photographs, may be mailed to Editor, American Psychotherapy Association, 2750 E. Sunshine, Springfield, MO 65804.
Once received, a manuscript will be reviewed to ensure it meets the submission guidelines. It will then be sent for peer review to members of an editorial board with expertise in the author’s field. The reviewers may accept the article as-is, require changes before acceptance, or reject the paper. The American Psychotherapy Association will pass on reviewer comments to the author once all the reviews are completed.
Important Exclusivity Note: By submitting a manuscript to Annals of the American Psychotherapy AssociationSM, an author certifies that the material has not been and will not be submitted to any other publication prior to its appearance in Annals.
