Abstract
Welcome to the third issue for 2025!
I start with some good news! The Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools is now a Q1 ranked journal in the field of Education. Q1 journals (ranked in the top quartile) are widely regarded as the most prestigious and influential in their field and articles tend to be cited more often than those in lower quartiles. In other words, a Q1 ranking in Education means that it outperforms at least 75% of all journals in the category, according to citation-based metrics. This achievement would not be possible without the enduring support of the editorial team and our highly valued peer-reviewers. Many thanks to them all!
Original articles
In this issue we bring you three original articles. First, Phillips and Anderson examined whether Australian school staff experience secondary traumatic stress following student suicide and how protective factors like detachment, self-care, satisfaction, and social support relate to secondary traumatic stress. Findings showed clinically concerning secondary traumatic stress levels reported by staff who had experienced a student suicide at their school, with greater detachment and social support linked to lower secondary traumatic stress, highlighting the need for trauma-informed approaches in schools.
Second, Asif and colleagues reported on a qualitative study that explored how school psychologists in Pakistan perceive and manage non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents. Their data revealed key themes including risk, gender differences, and barriers. Findings showed benefits of using psychoeducation, coping strategies, and family involvement and supported the need for culturally relevant interventions and collaborative support systems.
Third, Peker et al. investigated how exposure to phubbing (a blend of the words phone and snubbing referring to the act of ignoring someone in a social setting by focusing on a smartphone) influences adolescents’ own phubbing behavior. They found that feeling socially excluded and having poorer self-regulation might explain why adolescents who are phubbed are more likely to phub others. Phubbing is a growing concern in the digital age. This study emphasizes the need for further research into its psychological mechanisms and the development of effective, developmentally informed interventions.
Book review
Finally, I am pleased to include two book reviews in this issue. Nazilah and Aqil have reviewed: Mental Health in English Language Education by Ludwig et al (2024). Situmorang has reviewed: The Creative Arts in Counselling (6th ed) by Gadding (2021). I hope you find their insightful reviews helpful for your practice.
Happy reading and take care!