Journal of Clinical Art Therapy

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Call for Submissions

Journal for Clinical Art Therapy

Special Issue: Art Therapy & Phenomenological Inquiry

Scope and Themes

This Special Issue welcomes contributions that engage phenomenology at any level—philosophical foundations, methodological applications, or practical research methods. Relevant topics include:

• Lived experience in art therapy: embodiment, perception, emotion, memory, and meaning
• Phenomenological research methods in art therapy (e.g., IPA, autoethnography, descriptive or hermeneutic phenomenology, PAR)
• Creative processes as phenomenological meaning-making
• Phenomenology of trauma, healing, transformation, or identity
• The therapeutic encounter: Intersubjectivity, presence, and relationality in art therapy practice
• Arts-based phenomenological research and visual methods
• Case studies informed by phenomenological principles
• Cross-cultural, existential, and spiritual dimensions of art therapy
• Phenomenology in community-based, clinical, educational, or interdisciplinary settings
• Researcher positionality, reflexivity, and philosophical grounding
• Supervision or training practices informed by phenomenology

Types of Contributions

• Original Research Articles (empirical, theoretical, or methodological)
• Practice-based Reflections (case studies, interventions, clinical insights)
• Arts-based Submissions (creative work with accompanying critical commentary)
• Reviews or Conceptual Papers (literature syntheses, emerging frameworks, policy discussions)

Phenomenology in Art Therapy Research

Phenomenology provides the philosophical stance that shapes how researchers understand experience and position themselves in relation to participants. As a research methodology, it guides the design of studies by helping researchers think about their position, assumptions, and approach to meaning-making. As a set of research methods, phenomenology includes descriptive and interpretive analyses, heuristic inquiry, autoethnography, and participatory approaches (such as Participatory Action Research) that support the exploration of lived experience through language, stories, images, embodiment, and creative processes.

Submission Guidelines

• Manuscripts should follow APA 7th edition formatting.
• Word counts:
  • 5,000–6,000 words for full articles
  • 1,500–3,000 words for practice-based reflections
• Include a 150-200 word abstract and 3–5 keywords.
• High-resolution images of artwork or community projects are encouraged (with proper permissions).

AI Use and Transparency Requirements

The Journal for Clinical Art Therapy supports the ethical use of artificial intelligence tools in academic writing, analysis, and creative inquiry when used responsibly and transparently. Authors must adhere to the following expectations:

• AI tools may not be listed as authors.
• Any use of AI (e.g., for writing assistance, coding, transcription, image generation, or analytic support) must be disclosed in the Methods or Acknowledgments section of the manuscript.
• Authors must describe how AI tools were used, the specific tools employed, and the degree to which outputs were modified.
• Authors retain full responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of all content.
• AI-generated or AI-altered images or figures may not be used, except when central to the research topic, design, or methods.

Sample AI Disclosure: During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [Name of Tool/Service, Version] in order to [Purpose/Reason]. The author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the manuscript.

How to Submit

Please submit full manuscripts through the Journal for Clinical Art Therapy submission portal: Submit here.

For questions about the Special Issue, contact the Editor at: Joyce Yip Green