Publishing Principles

Therapytips.org is the editorial and publishing division of Awake Therapy, an international telehealth provider serving clients in over 40 countries. Our mission is to deliver clear, actionable, and research-informed mental health and psychology content written and reviewed by experts.

We created this Publishing Principles page to provide full transparency into how our content is produced, reviewed, updated, and maintained—and to ensure readers, clinicians, reporters, and search engines can evaluate the quality and credibility of our work.

Our Commitment to E-E-A-T: Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness & Trustworthiness

Therapytips.org follows the principles outlined in Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines for websites that publish psychology, mental health, and other YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics. We demonstrate E-E-A-T through:

• Expertise: Articles are written or reviewed by psychologists, clinicians, and researchers with advanced training in mental health and behavioral science.
• Experience: Content incorporates professional experience from therapy, clinical practice, research, and real-world applied psychology.
• Authoritativeness: We cite scientific journals, reputable institutions, and established psychological theories.
• Trustworthiness: We maintain transparent authorship, clearly label expert reviewers, and avoid unsupported or sensational claims.

Every article is attributed to a human author, and many are additionally reviewed by licensed professionals to ensure accuracy and reader safety.

Clinical & Scientific Review

To ensure accuracy and safeguard readers, certain articles undergo an additional layer of review performed by qualified mental health professionals. This includes:

• Clinical accuracy checks: Verifying that language reflects accepted clinical practice and avoids harm.
• Scientific validation: Confirming that empirical claims, statistics, and psychological concepts are supported by current research.
• Reader-safe communication: Ensuring the tone is responsible, non-pathologizing, and appropriate for general audiences.

Our primary clinical reviewer is Jourdan Travers, LCSW, a licensed psychotherapist and Clinical Director at Awake Therapy. Her responsibilities include:

• reviewing mental-health–related articles for clinical soundness,
• verifying the appropriate use of psychological terminology,
• identifying areas requiring clarification or added nuance,
• suggesting revisions based on real-world therapeutic practice.

Whenever an article has undergone clinical review, this is clearly disclosed on the page so readers and external evaluators can verify the additional quality controls applied.

How We Align With Google’s Quality & Trust Guidelines

Therapytips.org is designed to meet the expectations outlined in Google’s Search Quality Rater Guidelines, particularly for YMYL (Your Money or Your Life) topics related to mental health and psychological well-being. We focus on:

• E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness): All content is written or reviewed by trained professionals, including psychologists and researchers, with clear author attribution.
• Human-Centered Content: Articles reflect first-hand professional experience, practical clinical insights, and scientifically validated information.
• High Trust Standards: We avoid exaggerated claims, unsupported advice, or content that could mislead readers making health-related decisions.
• Transparent Editorial Oversight: We document how articles are created, reviewed, and updated so readers—and search engines—can understand our quality controls.
• Reader Safety: Because mental health is sensitive, we prioritize accuracy, emotional care, and ethical communication in every published piece.

This section is provided to help external evaluators, partners, and quality raters understand the safeguards and professional expertise behind our content.

Our Editorial Standards

Therapytips.org publishes articles at the intersection of psychology, mental health, relationships, emotional well-being, behavioral science, and evidence-based self-improvement. We are committed to:

• Accuracy — All articles must reflect current scientific understanding.
• Objectivity — Content is presented without sensationalism or bias.
• Authority — Articles are authored or reviewed by domain experts, including psychologists, researchers, licensed clinicians, and doctoral-level scholars.
• Clarity — Translating complex research into language that is understandable and actionable.
• Ethical Responsibility — Mental health information is handled with care and grounded in respect for readers’ real-world needs.

How Our Content Is Created

Content on Therapytips.org is produced through a multi-step editorial process:

1. Topic Selection: We select topics based on relevance to psychological science, reader demand, trending research, clinical insights, and real-world mental health challenges.
2. Author Expertise: Articles are written primarily by Mark Travers, Ph.D., an American psychologist specializing in relationship science, positive psychology, and human motivation. Additional contributors may include clinicians, researchers, and subject-matter experts.
3. Evidence Gathering: Authors consult peer-reviewed journals, meta-analyses, published books, interviews with experts, and reputable psychological databases.
4. Drafting & Scientific Translation: Complex scientific findings are translated into practical insights without sacrificing accuracy or nuance.

Review, Editing & Fact-Checking

Every article undergoes one or more of the following quality-control steps:

• Editorial review for clarity, readability, structure, and tone.
• Scientific review (when applicable) to ensure claims align with current psychological research.
• Fact-checking of empirical claims, statistics, and referenced studies.
• Ethical review for responsible mental-health communication.

Articles that discuss clinical, medical, or diagnostic topics are reviewed with heightened scrutiny to ensure the information is:

• accurate,
• non-misleading,
• scientifically grounded,
• and appropriate for a general audience.

Reference Standards

Where relevant, articles include:

• citations to empirical studies,
• links to primary research sources,
• references to books or academic journals,
• and attributions to licensed professionals or experts.

Our goal is to provide traceable, verifiable, and transparent psychological information that readers can trust.

Content Types & Labeling

Therapytips.org publishes several types of content, each clearly labeled:

• Expert-Written Articles — Pieces grounded in psychological research and authored by professionals with domain expertise.
• Interviews — Conversations with researchers, clinicians, authors, and thought leaders.
• Advice Columns — Practical guidance rooted in evidence-based psychological principles.
• Research Summaries — Plain-language explanations of new or important psychological research.
• Personality Tests — Interactive assessments informed by empirical findings and validated frameworks.

If an article includes personal insight, opinion, or professional interpretation, it is clearly disclosed within the text.

Use of Generative AI

Therapytips.org maintains strict standards around the use of AI in the editorial process:

• AI is never used to automatically generate articles.
• Authors may use AI tools for preliminary research, idea organization, or administrative tasks.
• All final writing, editing, and conclusions are created and approved by humans with domain expertise.
• No article is published without direct human authorship and review.

Updating & Maintaining Content

We regularly update articles to reflect:

• new research findings,
• evolving scientific consensus,
• clinical best practices,
• and changes in diagnostic frameworks or terminology.

Updates are made by editors and experts to ensure accuracy and relevance over time.

Diversity, Ethics & Reader Well-Being

Therapytips.org adheres to core ethical principles in psychology publishing:

• We avoid stigmatizing language.
• We prioritize inclusivity and respect for diverse backgrounds.
• We never offer medical diagnosis or individualized treatment recommendations.
• We encourage readers to seek professional help when appropriate.

How to Contact Us

If you have questions about our editorial process, wish to report an error, or want to suggest an update, please contact us.