Policies

• Peer Review Process
• Publication Frequency
• Journal History
• Open Access Policy
• Privacy and Consent Policy

All article and report submissions are peer-reviewed anonymously (all other submission genres are reviewed by an editor and are not sent to exteranal peer reviewers). Manuscripts are initially screened by an editor of the journal. If the manuscript meets the submission requirements, then an anonymised version is sent to two or three external reviewers. The peer-review process is overseen by the editor, and if necessary (e.g. in case of dispute between reviewers) the editor may consult a member of the advisory editorial board.

Reviewers are required to evaluate the manuscript normally within 30-40 days. As soon as they provide their feedback, the editor produces a report enclosing the reviewers’ comments and outlining the next steps for the authors.

If reviewers require minor revisions, then the remaining review process carries on only in collaboration with the editor who ensures that all necessary amendments are addressed in the revised submission of the article. If major revisions are required, then the revised submission has to go through a second review round.

Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, it is copy-edited and proofread. A final proof copy is sent to the authors giving the opportunity for a final check prior to its publication. Authors are typically expected to return their final proof comments within 10 days.

The review process aims to ensure the high quality of publications appearing in Approaches. Review comments are meant to be constructive and guide authors on how to further develop their manuscripts. During the review process, editors, reviewers and authors may hold different perspectives on particular topics. In any case, when responding to review comments and submitting a revised version, authors need to clearly indicate how the review comments have been addressed and support their decision making as appropriate.

By submitting their manuscripts to Approaches, authors agree automatically with the copyright standards of the journal.

Approaches follows a double-anonymous review method where both reviewers and authors remain anonymous to each other throughout the review process. Since 2026, reviewers have the option to be named after a manuscript has been accepted for publication, and if they wish their name appears on the published manuscript.

Publication Freqency

Approaches follows a rolling publication model. As such, a paper appears within the Current volume as soon as it has been reviewed and accepted for publication. Our rolling publication model ensures efficient dissemination of knowledge and flexibility in open access publishing. Adopted since the beginning of 2026, this model has replaced the previous bi-annual issue publications of the journal.

Journal History

Approaches was founded in September 2008. As the first peer-reviewed journal of music therapy in Greece, the journal was established under the leadership of its founding editor Giorgos Tsiris. Originally known as "Approaches: Music Therapy & Special Music Education" (ISSN 1791-9622), the journal functioned under the auspices of the Greek Association of Primary Music Education Teachers (GAPMET).

In 2015, the journal became an autonomous open access publication. Also, its name changed to “Approaches: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Music Therapy” (ISSN 2459-3338) to reflect its vision to foster interdisciplinary dialogue in music therapy by bridging local and global aspects of music, health and wellbeing.

Approaches has been an English-Greek journal since its inception, contibuting actively to the global music therapy community. As an open access peer-reviewed journal, Approaches invites diverse perspectives on music therapy practice, profession and discipline, and it promotes a critical dialogue between different professsional, disciplinary and cultural contexts.

Over the years, the journal was kindly sponsored by the following organisations: The Hellenic Association of Certified Professional Music Therapists (ESPEM), Mozarteum University Salzburg,  Music as Therapy International, Music Therapy New Zealand, Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy, nxw: Music Psychotherapy Center, Queens University of Charlotte, University of South Wales, Sonora: Multidisciplinary Organisation for Music Therapy & Research, and Special Music Centre Resonaari, Finland. Their support has enabled Approaches to continue as an open access journal and fulfil our vision for free knowledge building and sharing. Since 2022, Approaches is hosted by Queen Margaret University Edinbrugh, UK and we currently use Open Journal Systems (OJS) which is an open source journal management and publishing software developed, supported, and freely distributed by the Public Knowledge Project (PKP) under the GNU General Public License.