A Meta-Study of the Journal of Mental Health Counseling: An Analysis of Publication Characteristics, 2000–2019

Articles published in the Journal of Mental Health Counseling (JMHC) from 2000 to 2019 were analyzed to find patterns over time in author characteristics (e.g., demographic information, work setting, and leading contributors and institutions) and article content (e.g., typology, research methodology, research design, sophistication of statistical applications, and participant characteristics). A majority of JMHC lead and total authors are women, while the proportion of practitioner authors dropped significantly over the past 20 years from nearly 15% to less than 5%. Topical content was stable, while the proportion of research articles rose significantly to more than 50% from 2000 to 2019. JMHC displayed consistency in nearly all research study characteristics, commensurate with a mature scholarly journal. Journal reporting standards were stable for sample reliability and validity. JMHC made great strides in increasing the proportion of research studies reporting effect sizes over the past 20 years and is well positioned to continue meeting the scholarly needs of the mental health community.