Guidelines for Authors

Submitting a paper to ATOL

Contributors are strongly encouraged to read these instructions carefully before preparing a submission. 

  • Contributions must be relevant to the aims and objectives of the journal, as outlined in the About ATOL. Please see the ‘About Us’ link on the ATOL contents page.
  • ATOL will consider submissions on the understanding that they are original work, are not under consideration elsewhere, and are not already in press. Please see our AI Policy below if you include generative AI in your writing process. 
  • ATOL does not charge authors for publication, and commercial rights remain with the author.
  • First-time author welcome

For submissions, please ensure that all of the following are attached when sending your materials to atoljournal@gmail.com

  • The main article in Word format, including any images
  • The Completed Consent Form, using the file provided here
  • A brief author biography, as outlined in the guidelines below

All enquiries should also be sent to the email address above.

Upon receipt of your submission, the process is as follows:

  1. The Editorial Board will first consider whether the paper is a suitable submission to ATOL.
  2. If so, the Editorial Board will appoint an editor to work with you.
  3. The appointed editor will serve as your main point of contact throughout the submission process and provide feedback when further development is required.
  4. Once the manuscript is considered ready for peer review, the editor will anonymise it and send it to two peer reviewers for blind review.
  5. After the reviewers’ feedback is received, the editor will collate their recommendations and provide the author with feedback.
  6. The author will then revise the draft. The editor will offer guidance and support throughout this stage.
  7. Once the paper is ready for publication, the editor will send the author a formatted draft for review before publication.

Please note that the final decision regarding acceptance rests with the Editorial Board.

ATOL usually publishes one issue per year. As a result, the time between acceptance and publication may vary.

 

 Requirements for Journal Article Submission

  •  Language

As an international open-access journal, ATOL seeks to provide a platform for the art therapy profession worldwide. The journal welcomes submissions in English. Accepted papers could be published in more than one language on ATOL’s website. Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of all translations, including both the English text and the text in the language of your choice. 

The English text will be the main document used for editing. If an editor is available for the other language, there may be an opportunity to work in that language, but this cannot be guaranteed. The author is responsible for providing the translation.

  • Non-discrimination Language Policy

Authors must ensure the use of non-discriminatory language. 

  • Word Counts

The word limit for articles is up to 6,000 words, excluding abstract, keywords, references, and biography of the author. 

Here are the word limits for each section:

  •  Abstract: up to 200 words
  •  Keywords: no more than six keywords
  •  Main text: up to 6000 words (if the document is over 6000 words, a resubmission will be requested)
  •  Brief biography of the Author(s): up to 70 words per person
  •  Reference: no word limit

 

 Layout and Format

  •  Image: Please insert images into the main text and clearly label the copyright ownership. If it is a photo taken by yourself, please indicate. Please ensure the included images are of good quality. 
  •  Font:  Aril size 12 for the main text. Line space 1.5.
  •  File size: No larger than 50MB
  •  Footnote: Please insert directly. Words included in word counts
  •  Appendices: These should be clearly referenced in the main text.
  • References: Please use the Harvard referencing style. Ensure all references cited in the text appear in full in the reference list at the end of the submission and that name, spelling of names and dates cited in the text must be consistent with their respective entries in the References.

Please ensure that your references are accurate. AI should not be used to generate references, as it may produce inaccurate or fabricated information.

 

Informed Consent and Confidentiality

Confidentiality

  • Please note that ATOL is an open-access journal, and all published material is publicly accessible. Authors must therefore take particular care when including material that could allow individuals to identify themselves or be identified by others, and should consider carefully the sensitivity of any materials/information disclosed in the article.
  • Authors must protect the anonymity of clients and organisations by avoiding the use of names, initials, or any other identifying information.
  • Any client names visible in artwork must be obscured.
  • Reports of research should specify the ethical approval obtained and explicitly state that client consent has been secured for the reporting of research data, artwork, and clinical material.
  • In cases where a client referred to in the article wishes to be identifiable in the text, images, and/or photographs, specific written permission must be obtained and supplied with the submission.

Consent Form

  • Consent for the use of clinical material must be obtained from the client or, where the client is under age, from a parent or guardian, as appropriate. A template is available if needed. This form does not need to be submitted to the editor, but authors should retain it for their own records.
  • In cases where a client referred to in the article wishes to be identifiable in the text, images, and or photographs, specific written permission must be obtained and submitted with the manuscript.
  • The ATOL Submission Declaration Form must be completed and signed by the author. This should be attached to the submission email when the manuscript is submitted.

 

AI Policy

  • Authors may use artificial intelligence tools for purposes such as proofreading, translation, and grammatical checks. 
  • The author must make sure that when using AI for proofreading, any identifiable client-related information and images are anonymised 
  • Artificial intelligence tools must not be used to generate substantive content, including arguments, analysis, interpretations, or references.
  • Authors must be critical of any AI-assisted output and remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their submission.
  • Any use of artificial intelligence should be disclosed to the journal at the time of submission in the consent form.

If the journal identifies fabricated, misleading, or inauthentic content or references, we reserve the right to reject, withdraw, or retract the paper.

The Use of AI Declaration section can be found in the ATOL Submission Declaration Form.

 

Copyright

Copyright to the article remains with the authors, who grant ATOL and Goldsmiths an irrevocable licence to publish it in ATOL under the terms of the Creative Commons licence available at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Authors are responsible for securing permission to reproduce images or any other copyrighted material from third party sources, and for meeting any associated fees.

Authors are advised to read the full policy details relating to copyright, permissions, and open access at: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

 

Subsequent Publication, Adaptation, and Translation

Articles published in ATOL should not be republished elsewhere in full. However, authors may publish a revised or reworded version, reproduce part of the article, or publish a translation, provided that the original publication in ATOL is fully acknowledged with a clear citation. 

 

Authors should notify both ATOL and the subsequent publisher in advance of any republication. This is to ensure transparency in the publication record and to avoid any misunderstanding on the part of readers.

 

Your Contact Details

Authors are required to provide the information listed below. This information will be kept separate from the main manuscript and any accompanying files so that the submission can be processed for blind peer review. This information will be added to the final version of your paper. 

Please provide:

  • The name(s) of all author(s)
  • The institutional affiliation(s) of all author(s)
  • A brief biographical note for each author, approximately 70 words in length
  • A contact email address, if authors wish to provide one

Please do not include links to personal or professional social media page. 

If authors have any questions or inquiry, please contact the editorial board:

atoljournal@gmail.com

 

Updated 18/09/2026