About this journal

As the official publication of the Association for Specialists in Group Work, The Journal for Specialists in Group Work is an indispensable resource for both practitioners and educators working with groups in clinical, organizational, educational and community settings.

The Journal for Specialists in Group Work is directed toward group work practitioners with a focus on group work theory, interventions, training, current issues, and research. The group process is a powerful method for development and change in the individual, the organization, and the community.

The Journal for Specialists in Group Work expands our understanding of this dynamic field. In each issue of the journal you’ll find peer-reviewed articles that:

• promote the practice of group work
• cover the continuum of types of group work - from task to therapy groups
• emphasize the processes that make groups effective
• integrate theory and practice
• provide specific information about how to lead groups and train group leaders.

Okech, J. E. A. & Rubel, D. J. (2023).Publishing in The Journal for Specialists in Group Work: Understanding and Centering the Concept of Group Work. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 48, 273–276.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2023.2284081.

PLEASE NOTE NEW SUBMISSION INFORMATION

Manuscripts considered for publication in The Journal for Specialists in Group Work typically fall into one of the categories laid out below and match the criteria therein:

• Practice

Practice manuscripts provide information about the purpose, structure, and populations addressed in group interventions. The role of group leaders in carrying out the intervention should be clearly delineated and the groups described must have been implemented in the field. Authors should provide some evaluation or commentary about the effectiveness of groups described in their manuscripts. Practice manuscripts should be clearly organized (see Okech et al., 2022):

— Okech, J. E. A., Ort, J., Steen, S., & Goodrich, K. (2022). Group work practice articles: Recommendations for manuscript development. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 47(1), 1-9.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2022.2014744.

• Research

Manuscripts in this category should report findings from a systematic investigation of the effects of a group intervention (or other topic related to group work). JSGW invites research from a range of methodologies and authors should use the APA 7 ^th Ed. Guidelines for Content & Organization. Authors should clearly indicate that their study has approval from an external review board, such as a University or College Institutional Review board. Please refer to the following articles for more specific guidelines for publishing empirical manuscripts in JSGW:

— Rubel, D., & Villalba, J. (2009). How to publish qualitative research in JSGW: A couple more voices in the conversation. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 34, 295-306.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01933920903251964.

— Anser-Self, K. (2009). Research on groups: Writing your quantitative study so that JSGW will publish it; researchers, academics, and practitioners will use it; everyone will benefit; and good quality groups will proliferate. Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 34, 195-201.  https://doi.org/10.1080/01933920903041480.

• Commentary

Commentary manuscripts may be invited or unsolicited and focus on current topics and debates in the field. Authors are encouraged to contact the editorial staff before submitting such a manuscript so that it can receive proper consideration.

• Brief Reports

JSGW will consider brief reports of research conducted on group work. Brief reports are no longer than 10 double-spaced pages, including tables, references, etc.

Topics for brief reports may include replications of previous research, well-designed pilot studies, or the use of innovative research methods or group interventions.

• Training Articles

Training manuscripts are focused on important elements of the education, training, and service delivery associated with group work. The manuscript should be grounded in the group work literature with careful attention to empirical support for the authors’ ideas.

• Theoretical Articles

Manuscripts in this category draw upon currently published research literature with the aim of furthering theories in the field of group work. Authors may present an original theory of their own, or evaluate existing theories.

• Special Issues

Authors interested in guest editing a special issue should contact the Editor-in-Chief and will be asked to submit a proposal justifying the need for the special issue, including its proposed topics.

Peer Review Policy: All articles in this journal have undergone editorial screening and double anonymized peer review by three anonymous reviewers.

Publication office: Taylor & Francis, Inc., 530 Walnut Street, Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106 .

EDITOR
Jane Okech, Ph.D., Department of Counseling, Human Development and Family Sciences,
University of Vermont
304 Waterman Bldg.
85 So. Prospect St.
Burlington, VT 05405
United States
E-mail: [email protected]

ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Jonathan H. Ohrt, Ph.D., Counselor Education Program, Department of Educational Studies
University of South Carolina
820 Main Street, Wardlaw College
Columbia, SC 29208
United States
E-mail: [email protected]

Deborah Rubel, Ph.D., Counselor Education and Counseling
College of Education
Oregon State University
Joyce Collin Furman Hall 204L
200 SW 15th Street
Corvallis, OR 97331
United States
E-mail: [email protected]

EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBERS
Kimberly Asner (2024) - Touro College, United States
Vasiliki C. Baourda (2027) - University of Ionnina, Greece
Christine Bhat (2024) - Ohio University, United States
Andreas Brouzos (2027) - University of Ionnina, Greece
Julia Champe (2024) - Walden University, United States
Shih-Hua Chang (2027) - National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan
Devika Dipya Choudhuri (2026) - Eastern Michigan University, United States
Amy L. Cook (2027) - University of Massachusetts - Boston, United States
Ashley Coombs (2024) - Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, United States
Delini M. Fernando (2024) - University of North Texas, United States
Victoria Foster (2024) - College of William and Mary, United States
Ni Gao (2027) - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, United States
Ediza Garcia (2027) - Texas A&M International University, United States
Keely J. Hope (2024) - Eastern Washington University, United States
Karen Michelle Hunnicutt Hollenbaugh (2027) - Texas A&M Corpus Christi, United States
Karyn Dayle Jones (2024) - University of Central Florida, United States
John Kiweewa (2024) - St. John Fisher College/Makerere University, United States
Keith Klosterman (2024) - Medaille College, United States
Weili Lu (2027) - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, United States
Melissa Luke (2024) - Syracuse University, United States
Clare Merlin-Knoblich (2027) - University of North Carolina at Charlotte, United States
Chris McCarthy (2027) - The University of Texas at Austin, United States
Janice D. Oursler (2027) - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, United States
Harvey Charles Peters (2027) - George Washington University, United States
Asher Pimpleton (2024) - Arkansas State University, United States
Brittany L. Pollard (2024) - Indiana University of Pennsylvania, United States
Jennifer Rogers (2024) - Wake Forest University, United States
Christine Schimmel (2024) - West Virginia University, United States
Katy Schroeder (2027) - University of Iowa, United States
Sarah I. Springer (2027) - Monmouth University, United States
Sammy Steen (2026) - George Mason University, United States
Rachel Vannatta (2024) - Immaculata University, United States
Stephanos P. Vassilopoulos (2027) - University of Patras, Greece
Paige N. Williams (2024) - East Central University, United States
Yiying Xiong (2027) - John Hopkins University, United States
Peitao Zhu (2027) - Northern Illinois University, United States

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
Crispina Pincus - University of Vermont, United States

NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Rachel Vannatta - George Washington University, United States

The Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) turned 30 in December 2003. The major purpose of ASGW is to establish standards for professional and ethical practice; to support research and the dissemination of knowledge; and to provide professional leadership in the field of group work. A division of the American Counseling Association (ACA), ASGW numbers among its members more than 1200 group workers and group work educators.

Association for Specialists in Group Work
American Counseling Association