The International Forum for Logotherapy

Journal of Search for Meaning

THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR LOGOTHERAPY is the official publication of the Viktor Frankl Institute of Logotherapy.  It presents the meaning-oriented existential philosophy and therapy developed by Dr. Viktor Frankl and expanded by logotherapists throughout the world, working in counseling, education, medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, and other fields where the question of meaning becomes pertinent.  The FORUM publishes experiential reports, theoretical papers, personal essays, research studies, innovative logotherapeutic techniques for individuals and groups, and book reviews.  Case studies are not currently being published.

THE INTERNATIONAL FORUM FOR LOGOTHERAPY is published semi-annually in the Spring and Fall.

The journal is currently transitioning to a new format to be in alignment with the updated website. Additional information will be posted describing submission guidelines and the peer review process soon.

Submission of Manuscripts

Submit all manuscripts electronically to Dr. Rodney Dieser at Rodney.dieser@uni.edu. Make sure all submission are in accordance with the instructions below. You will receive a written confirmation acknowledging receipt of your submitted manuscript. Following preliminary review by the editor, manuscripts that are research-based, theoretical papers and practice and innovative logotherapeutic techniques will be sent for blind peer review to members of the editorial board. Experiential reports, personal essays, and book and media reviews will be reviewed by the editor only. Identified your manuscript as one of the following:

Publication Team

Rodney Dieser, Ph.D

International Forum for Logotherapy Editor

Research:

  • Quantitative Research Articles: Estimates of effect size should be addressed along with interpretations of practical significance. P-values should be reported accurately and clear description of measures should be provided.

  • Qualitative Research Articles: Discussion of trustworthiness appropriate for the qualitative method used in the study must be included. Qualitative methodology must be appropriate for the study.

  • Mixed Methods Research Articles: Demonstration of sound mixed methods design must be included.

Theoretical Papers:

Integrative Literature Reviews: Manuscripts must contribute to the literature and must go beyond reporting findings.

Practice and Innovative Logotherapeutic Techniques for Individuals and Groups:

Manuscripts concerning new practices, innovative use of existing approaches/techniques, or experimental programs should fully describe the application(s) of approaches/techniques in order that readers can have a clear understanding of what is being done. Theoretical foundations and/or research concerning the approach/technique, if such exists, should be included.

Experiential Reports and Personal Essays:

Experiential and personal essay refers directly to your own experience, without employing academic citations or any other kind of references, and can include different genres of writing drawn from the humanities, such as auto-ethnographies, ethno-dramas, poetry, prose, and visual art meant to illustrate logotherapy and the search for meaning.

Book and Media Reviews

A book or media review is a form of criticism in which a book is summarized along with providing a judgment about the worth of a text as it relates to logotherapy. A book review may be a primary source, opinion piece, summary review or scholarly review. A media review refers to components of the mass media communications industry, such as print media, news media, photography, cinema/films/movies, broadcasting (radio and television), and advertising.

Preparation of Manuscripts

  1. Manuscripts should be well-organized and concise so that the development of ideas is logical. Avoid dull stereotyped writing, and aim to communicate ideas clearly to a readership composed of practitioners and educators.
  2. Include an abstract no longer than 100 words. The statement should express the central idea of the article in nontechnical language and engage the reader’s interest.
  3. Shorten article titles so that they do not exceed 50 characters.
  4. When reviewing the literature, contain your synthesis to only the more recent studies specific to your research unless discussing seminal articles important to the reader’s understanding of the construct being discussed. Your goal should be to assist the reader in understanding the contemporary conceptualization and understanding of the constructs included in your study.
  5. Manuscripts should not exceed 20 double-spaced pages, including references, tables, and figures. No more than 3 tables and 2 figures with each manuscript will be accepted.
  6. References should follow the style described in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition, 2020.
  7. Never submit manuscripts that are under consideration by another journal.
  8. Do not use reference footnotes in your manuscript document. Use a reference page instead. However, and as outlined in the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, content footnotes can be used sparingly when it provides additional context that does not logically fit into the body of the manuscript and does not include complicated material.
  9. Attach your manuscript as a MS Word file. Do not include any identifying information on the title page, in your manuscript or in the file name. This file is included in the blind review process. Manuscripts that include identifying information will be automatically declined and authors will be required to resubmit once identifying information is removed.
  10. Allow up to three months from the date of submission for notification of manuscript disposition.

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The Viktor Frankl Institute welcomes charitable gifts of any size to further its mission of promoting optimal health and well-being through meaningful living. We are a nonprofit organization and are recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a 501c3 organization and meet all conditions necessary to make gifts deductible for US income tax purposes.