Andrea F. Polard Psy.D.
Andrea F. Polard, Psy.D., founded and teaches Zen Psychology and Zen Psychology Therapy. She derived the approach from her book, A Unified Theory of Happiness. Her work is rooted in science and Western thought as well as in Eastern thought, especially Zen Buddhism, reflecting her multicultural background. After having started with humanistic approaches, she subsequently trained in self-psychology, system-oriented therapy, cognitive-behavioral psychology and mind-body work. Polard studied at the Freie University Berlin, focusing on creativity and non-verbal expressions, using the Facial Action Coding System to analyze the smile. Her dissertation examined the phenomenon of emigration: Leaving the Circle. She is now an independent researcher and scholar of wisdom traditions, aspiring to revitalize Zen Buddhism in form of Zen Psychology.