All essays, dissertations, reflective papers, case studies, and academic assignments submitted within the Department of Integrative Psychotherapy must follow APA (American Psychological Association) citation and referencing style.
APA style is one of the most widely used academic referencing systems in psychology, psychotherapy, social sciences, education, and mental health research. Its purpose is to ensure academic clarity, intellectual honesty, consistency, and appropriate acknowledgment of sources.
Students are expected to use APA style both for:
- in-text citations throughout the paper;
- the final reference list/bibliography.
Why APA Referencing Is Important
APA referencing helps students:
- acknowledge the work of other authors and researchers;
- support arguments with scientific evidence;
- distinguish between personal ideas and cited material;
- avoid plagiarism;
- develop professional academic writing skills;
- increase the credibility and academic quality of their work.
Correct referencing is considered an essential academic and professional competency.
General Formatting Requirements
Academic papers should generally follow these formatting guidelines:
- Font: Times New Roman 12 or equivalent academic font;
- Line spacing: 1.5 or double spacing;
- Standard margins;
- Page numbers included;
- Clear headings and subheadings where appropriate.
In-Text Citations
Whenever students use: ideas; theories; research findings; quotations; paraphrased material; clinical concepts developed by another author,
they must provide an in-text citation.
Basic In-Text Citation Format
One author
(Beck, 2011)
Example:
Depression is often associated with negative automatic thoughts (Beck, 2011).
Two authors
(Norcross & Goldfried, 2005)
Three or more authors
(Siegel et al., 2020)
Narrative Citations
The author’s name may also appear within the sentence itself.
Example:
Siegel (2020) emphasises the importance of interpersonal neurobiology in emotional regulation.
Direct Quotations
Direct quotations should be used sparingly and only when necessary.
Short quotations must include: author; year; page number.
Example:
“The therapeutic alliance is one of the strongest predictors of outcome” (Norcross, 2011, p. 45).
Paraphrasing
Students are encouraged to paraphrase ideas rather than excessively quoting texts directly.
Even when paraphrasing, the original source must still be cited.
Example:
Attachment relationships influence emotional regulation capacities throughout development (Bowlby, 1988).
Reference List
At the end of the paper, students must include a complete reference list containing all sources cited throughout the text.
The reference list should:
- appear on a separate page;
- be organised alphabetically by author surname;
- include only cited sources;
- follow APA formatting conventions consistently.
Examples of APA References
Book
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book. Publisher.
Example:
Beck, J. S. (2011). Cognitive behavior therapy: Basics and beyond. Guilford Press.
Chapter in an Edited Book
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Book title (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.
Example:
Siegel, D. J. (2020). Interpersonal neurobiology and psychotherapy. In L. Greenberg (Ed.), Contemporary psychotherapy perspectives (pp. 45–62). Routledge.
Scientific Journal Article
Format:
Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of article. Journal Name, Volume(Issue), pages. DOI
Example:
Fonagy, P., & Allison, E. (2014). The role of mentalizing in attachment and psychotherapy. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 24(3), 123–136. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Website
Format:
Author/Organisation. (Year). Title of webpage. Website name. URL
Example:
American Psychological Association. (2020). APA style guidelines. https://www.apa.org
Use of Scientific Sources
Students are expected to prioritise: peer-reviewed journal articles; academic books; recognised psychotherapy literature; reputable scientific publications.
Excessive use of: non-academic websites; blogs; unverified online sources; AI-generated uncited material,
is not considered appropriate academic practice.
Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
Plagiarism occurs when a student presents another person’s ideas, words, or work as their own without appropriate citation.
Examples include:
- copying text without quotation or citation;
- paraphrasing without referencing;
- presenting AI-generated material as original work;
- fabricating references or sources.
Plagiarism constitutes a serious breach of academic and professional ethics and may lead to:
- rejection of the assignment;
- resubmission requirements;
- disciplinary procedures.
Students are encouraged to use AI tools ethically and critically, as supportive instruments for learning and reflection rather than substitutes for personal thinking, analysis, and academic work.
Recommendations for Students
Students are encouraged to:
- begin referencing from the start of the writing process;
- maintain clear records of sources consulted;
- use citation management software where helpful;
- proofread references carefully before submission;
- prioritise clarity, coherence, and academic integrity.
Learning APA style is considered part of the professional formation of the psychotherapist, contributing to the development of scientific literacy, ethical responsibility, and academic competence.
Useful resources for academic writting
APA Style
Purdue
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/common_writing_assignments/index.html
University of Southern Queensland
https://usq.pressbooks.pub/academicsuccess/chapter/assignments/