All manuscripts submitted to the Journal of Clinical Psychology Research (JCPR) undergo an initial editorial screening by the Editor-in-Chief. At this stage, approximately 40% of submissions are desk rejected due to a lack of alignment with the journal's scope or insufficient scientific quality.

Manuscripts that pass this initial check are assigned by the Editor-in-Chief to an Associate Editor with subject matter expertise. The Associate Editor oversees the peer review process, ensuring that the manuscript is evaluated fairly and ethically. Each manuscript is sent to at least two independent expert reviewers. Reviewers are asked to evaluate the originality, methodological rigor, clarity, and significance of the work.

JCPR follows a double-blind peer review process:

• Authors do not know the identity of the reviewers.
• Reviewers remain unaware of the identities of the authors.

To maintain anonymity, authors must remove identifying information from the manuscript, including acknowledgments and self-citations, during the initial submission.

After peer review is complete, the Associate Editor makes a recommendation based on the reviewers’ reports. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for the final editorial decision (Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject). A decision to revise does not guarantee acceptance, and revised manuscripts may be returned to the same or new reviewers when necessary.

 Editorial Oversight

• Editor-in-Chief: Has ultimate responsibility for maintaining editorial integrity and making final editorial decisions.
• Associate Editors: Manage the review process in their areas of expertise and provide recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief.
• Advisory Board: Provides strategic guidance on the journal’s scientific direction, ethics policies, and best editorial practices. Advisory Board members do not routinely handle submissions but may be consulted in cases of complex ethical issues, appeals, or conflicts of interest. They may also support the identification of qualified reviewers or contribute to the development of special issues.