A Journal Focused on Special Editions

Please Note:  JSC is not accepting unsolicited, general manuscripts for the foreseeable future. To ensure the journal's sustainability, we are transitioning to a special edition format.

 

Special Edition call for 2025

Call for Submissions – Special Edition of the Journal of School Counseling
Theme: Integrating Creativity into School-Based Mental Health Supports
Submission Deadline: August 1, 2025

The Journal of School Counseling invites submissions for an upcoming Special Edition focused on Integrating Creativity into School-Based Mental Health Supports. As schools continue to navigate complex student needs, creative approaches are proving to be powerful tools for promoting emotional well-being, engagement, and healing.

This special issue seeks to highlight innovative, research-informed, and practice-based applications of creative methods within school counseling and mental health services. We encourage submissions from practitioners, researchers, and counselor educators who are exploring the intersection of creativity and mental health in school settings.

Topics may include (but are not limited to):

  • Use of art, music, play, movement, or narrative in counseling

  • Program descriptions or evaluations of creative school-based interventions

  • Culturally responsive and trauma-informed creative strategies

  • Theoretical frameworks supporting creative counseling practices

  • Case studies illustrating effective implementation of creative techniques

Submission Guidelines:

  • Manuscripts must be formatted according to APA 7th Edition guidelines.

  • Please include a clean, high-resolution copy of any figures as a separate attachment.

  • Submit manuscripts via email to Dr. Rebecca Koltz at: rebecca.koltz@montana.edu

  • Submission deadline: August 1, 2025

We look forward to your contributions as we explore the transformative potential of creativity in supporting student mental health.

 
 
 

About the Journal of School Counseling (JSC)

Elevating school counseling since 2003

The Journal of School Counseling (JSC) is an open access, peer reviewed journal dedicated to publishing articles that promote the effective practice of school counseling. The journal is one of two publications in the nation known for publishing about school counseling and has been doing so for over 20 years. Our mission is to foster a community of scholarship by sharing the insights, practices, and research of school counselors and counselor educators nationwide. We believe this journal showcases the wisdom and best practices of professional school counselors, alongside the cutting-edge research and ideas from counselor educators training future counselors. To maintain the sustainability of the journal, we will focus on publishing one special edition per year and will no longer accept unsolicited, general manuscripts. For our special editions, we will accept manuscripts of the following types as long as they are connected to the special edition topic. 

 

Resource Briefs presents current practices and research on concepts, strategies, or activities that school counselors may use to deliver their school counseling programs. These articles are brief (12 pages or less, excluding references) and are meant to be introductions to topics, research, and practices that provide immediate relevance and applicability to school counselors.

In addition, the journal continues to offer the following interest sections:

Innovative Methods includes thorough descriptions of techniques, strategies, skills, and activities that have been developed and/or implemented by counselors in elementary, middle, and high schools. We invite you to submit your “best practices” and to tell others why they are particularly effective.

Theory & Research hosts a variety of manuscripts, both qualitative and quantitative, that describe original research as well as literature reviews on topics pertaining to school counseling.

Professional Development primarily describes, through manuscripts and position papers, ways in which school counselors can continue to cultivate and enhance their professional identities. Training strategies for school counseling students as well as continuing education for experienced counselors will be highlighted.

Current Issues features manuscripts and position papers that detail contemporary issues affecting schools and school counselors. Authors are invited to explore topics such as charter schools, special education, funding issues, and social issues faced by children and adolescents.

JSC is a national, peer-reviewed journal. We strive to publish high quality articles that are pertinent and elevate school counseling. In 2024 the journal transitioned to a once per year special edition journal.  As an online journal, submission and review of manuscripts are handled electronically.

In today’s world, replete with ever changing political, social, and economic conditions, it is important to remain informed and active. This journal serves as a forum for discussion and exchange of ideas and practices that elevate school counseling.