Black Therapy Today — Editorial Process

Black Therapy Today publishes evidence-informed, culturally-attuned health information and stories that uplift Black mental health. Content is designed to educate, reduce stigma, and connect readers with resources and professionals.

We prioritize:

• Accurate, clinically responsible information
• Culturally relevant perspectives and lived experience
• Clear, non-stigmatizing language

All content must meet high editorial and clinical quality standards before publication.

• Evidence-based claims with clear sources or citations when applicable.
• Content should avoid clinical jargon or define terms when necessary.
• Privacy and HIPAA-related guidance must never include personal patient details.

Every piece follows a defined workflow to ensure accuracy and sensitivity.

1. Draft: Writer produces first draft following the Writer Guidelines.
2. Editorial Review: Editor checks structure, sourcing, and tone.
3. Clinical Review (if required): Qualified clinician verifies medical/therapeutic claims.
4. Final QA: Copy edit for clarity, accessibility, and brand voice.
5. Publish: Content goes live with metadata and tags applied.

Editors must document reviewer names and dates for transparency.

We center cultural context in every story and avoid language that pathologizes communities. Content should highlight resilience, systems-level factors, and culturally relevant healing practices.

• Avoid stereotypes and generalized assumptions.
• Include historical and structural context where relevant.
• Invite voices from the community and lived experience.

We publish several content formats appropriate to editorial goals:

• Clinical Insight: Expert analysis and evidence-based guidance.
• Health Education: Practical explainers and how-to guides.
• Lived Experience: First-person narratives & reflections.
• News & Reporting: Timely community-focused coverage.

Contributors range from clinicians to community writers. For clinical or technical topics, the contributor must demonstrate relevant credentials.

• Preferred: licensed clinicians (LPC, LCSW, PhD)
• Researchers and academics with domain expertise
• Community healers and lived-experience writers for narrative pieces

We focus editorial efforts on areas that most impact our community, including racial trauma, Black maternal mental health, grief, substance use, identity and intersectionality, and LGBTQ+ mental health.

Editors may commission special series for deep coverage and partner with community organizations when appropriate.

AI tools may be used for ideation and drafting only. Human expertise and editorial verification are required for any clinical or factual content. Never publish AI output without attribution as per policy.

• AI can assist with outlines, topic research, and suggestions.
• All final text must be original, reviewed, and fact-checked.
• Use clear disclosure when AI materially influenced content.

Every article must include: SEO-friendly title, short summary, relevant tags, alt text for every image, and accessible headings. Use descriptive link text and ensure contrast meets accessibility standards.

• Provide image captions and alt text (brief, descriptive).
• Include reading time and author bio when relevant.
• Tag content with topic and geography where relevant.

We aim for transparency. Errors are corrected promptly with a clear note at the top of the article. Contributors must disclose conflicts of interest and funding sources.

To submit pitches or request editorial guidance, contact the editorial team with a short pitch, a target audience statement, and the contributor bio.

Email: editor@blacktherapytoday.com