From two rejections to a JCR Q1 acceptance in play therapy
A play-therapy manuscript desk-rejected once and rejected again for scope mismatch was repositioned and refined to acceptance in a JCR Q1-indexed journal.
Where the client started
Alice Erni Husein’s article, “Investigating the Effect of Therapeutic Play on Quality of Life: The Role of Engagement in Cognitive Flexibility,” was aimed at a JCR Q1-indexed journal.
The publication journey stalled early: the manuscript first received a desk rejection, then was rejected again for a journal scope mismatch — requiring a revised strategy, further refinement, and a better-fit target journal.
What we did
Reviewed the desk rejection and scope-mismatch feedback and rebuilt the publication plan.
Strengthened the academic quality and scholarly presentation to meet JCR Q1 expectations.
Identified a more suitable JCR Q1 journal and managed the submission.
Handled three major rounds of peer-review revisions through to acceptance.
The outcome
Approximately one and a half years from project initiation, the manuscript was accepted by a JCR Q1-indexed journal despite the early setbacks.
Persistence, strategic publication planning and continuous academic support turned two rejections into a successful Q1 publication.
How we delivered this outcome
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