Why Applied and Clinical Psychologists Choose JHP

JHP publishes evidence that improves mental health care, community wellbeing, public health behavior, workplace outcomes, and behavioral medicine. We focus on applied psychology that can be used by clinicians, community leaders, educators, and organizations. If your research delivers clear outcomes and practical insights, JHP is a strong home for your work.

Our editorial board includes specialists in clinical psychology, community psychology, health psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, and behavioral medicine. Submissions are evaluated for ethical compliance, methodological rigor, and real world impact. We prioritize transparent reporting so findings can guide care, policy, and program design.

We welcome interdisciplinary work that connects psychology with public health, education, medicine, and organizational leadership. Studies that describe implementation context, barriers to access, and equity focused outcomes are especially valued.

Scope Fit at a Glance

JHP welcomes manuscripts that align with applied and clinical psychology. Use this snapshot to confirm scope fit before submission.

• Clinical psychology, psychotherapy outcomes, and mental health care models.
• Community psychology, prevention programs, and public health behavior.
• Health psychology and behavioral medicine, including chronic disease management.
• Industrial-organizational psychology, workplace wellbeing, and leadership.
• Developmental, educational, and family psychology with applied outcomes.
• Equity focused research addressing access barriers and disparities.

Submissions should connect evidence to measurable outcomes such as symptom reduction, improved functioning,\n program engagement, or organizational wellbeing. Studies that describe implementation context and practical\n recommendations are especially valued.

Two Convenient Ways to Submit

Choose the workflow that best fits your team. Both methods lead to the same editorial standards and peer review.

Write for Clinical and Community Impact

JHP favors manuscripts that translate psychological evidence into practice. Explain how your findings improve care, strengthen community programs, or support healthier workplaces. Clear outcome reporting helps reviewers and readers understand the real world value of your work.

• Describe the population, setting, and practical context for the study.
• Report outcomes that matter to patients, communities, or organizations.
• Discuss implications for policy, service delivery, or intervention design.
• Highlight equity considerations and barriers to access when relevant.

Article Types We Publish

JHP publishes applied and clinical psychology research with clear outcomes and practical implications. Word limits vary by article type; please confirm details in the author guidelines.

Manuscript Preparation Essentials

Strong submissions are clear, clinically meaningful, and methodologically transparent. Ensure that your manuscript is aligned with JHP scope and includes outcomes that matter to patients, communities, or workplaces.

Prepare a structured abstract, include keywords that reflect the clinical focus, and ensure that measures and instruments are described clearly. When applicable, include intervention protocols, program materials, or supplemental data to support reproducibility.

• Title page with author affiliations and corresponding author contact.
• Structured abstract with background, methods, results, and conclusions.
• Clear description of participant population and setting.
• Tables and figures with descriptive legends.

Outcome Measures and Clinical Relevance

JHP prioritizes outcomes that inform real world care and behavioral decision making. Describe how outcomes were measured, why they are meaningful, and how they relate to patient or community wellbeing.

• Symptom change, functioning, or quality of life measures.
• Behavioral adherence, engagement, or program completion outcomes.
• Workplace wellbeing, burnout reduction, or organizational climate measures.
• Community level indicators such as access, participation, or stigma reduction.

Explain any limitations in measurement and provide context for interpreting results.

Ethics, Data Transparency, and Reporting

JHP follows COPE guidance and expects ethical compliance in all submissions. Protect participant privacy, disclose conflicts of interest, and report funding sources. Studies involving vulnerable populations should describe safeguards and community engagement.

We encourage open data and reproducible methods when feasible. If data cannot be shared, explain the restriction and the conditions for access. Clear reporting improves confidence and supports evidence synthesis.

Ensure that sensitive data are de-identified and that consent procedures are documented clearly. Studies involving clinical records or workplace data should describe data security safeguards.

• CONSORT for randomized and intervention studies.
• STROBE for observational and cohort research.
• PRISMA for systematic reviews and meta analyses.
• COREQ for qualitative and mixed methods studies.

Equity and Community Considerations

JHP encourages research that addresses mental health disparities and improves access to care. Studies should describe participant demographics, cultural context, and community engagement practices. When working with underserved populations, explain how the research design supports respectful, ethical participation.

• Report demographic data and inclusion criteria transparently.
• Describe community partnerships or advisory input when relevant.
• Highlight barriers to care and how interventions address them.
• Discuss implications for equity and culturally responsive practice.

Peer Review and Decision Timeline

Every manuscript undergoes editorial screening followed by single-blind peer review. Our goal is to provide clear feedback and timely decisions while maintaining rigorous quality standards.

Our average time to first decision is 24 days from submission. The complete timeline from submission to publication is approximately 45 days.

Article Processing Charges and Waivers

JHP is an open access journal supported by Article Processing Charges (APC). Waiver and discount options are available for eligible authors, including those from low resource settings. Please review the APC page for current rates and waiver criteria.

Authors who require institutional invoices or grant documentation should contact the editorial office after acceptance. Early waiver requests are encouraged to avoid publication delays.

After Acceptance

Accepted manuscripts move to copyediting and proof review. Authors receive page proofs to confirm accuracy of clinical details, tables, and figures. Final articles are published online with DOI assignment and are immediately accessible under open access licensing.

We encourage authors to share published work with clinical networks, community partners, and professional associations to maximize real world impact.