Andy Tix Ph.D.

About

Andy Tix, Ph.D., is a teacher and writer specializing in the psychology of well-being, religion, and spirituality. He earned his Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology from the University of Minnesota and his B.S. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. His research on spirituality and well-being has been recognized by the John Templeton Foundation and the American Psychological Association.

For more than a decade, Dr. Tix has written The Pursuit of Peace for Psychology Today, exploring the science of how religion and spirituality relate to individual and community thriving.

Dr. Tix teaches in the Psychology and Religious Studies programs at Normandale Community College in Bloomington, Minnesota, and consults with organizations seeking to apply well-being science to help people flourish.

Andy also writes longer-form articles at his Substack: Notes on the Sacred and Well-Being.

Learn more at andytix.com.

Recent Posts

What Makes Some Spaces Awe-Inspiring

Some spaces do more than shelter us. They take us outside ourselves, center us, and bring out our best.

Can Awe Actually Improve Mental Health?

After two decades of awe research, scientists conducted the first randomized controlled trial of awe. Here's what they found.

Is Your Idea of Well-Being Too Small?

Well-being is more than self-care. A holistic view suggests flourishing deepens when personal happiness connects to community, nature, and, for some, spirituality.

What the Happiest Countries Do Differently

The World Happiness Report finds that some countries have predictably happier citizens. Exploring why generates ideas for simple practices to improve well-being.

The Chatbot as a Spiritual Companion: An Unexpected Journey

Personal Perspective: I’m not sure if a chatbot belongs in spiritual life — but experience and research are making me rethink its potential role.

4 Life Lessons From Quaker Spirituality

Quaker spirituality and modern psychological science converge—often in countercultural ways—to offer practical lessons for living well.

7 Ways People Experience Spirituality

Spirituality isn't one-size-fits-all. There are many ways people find spiritual connection, both within and beyond religion.

4 Places That Inspire Spiritual Connection and Well-Being

Ever felt a deep spiritual bond with a place? New research suggests four ways we can connect spiritually with places and boost well-being in the process.

The New Science of Ecospirituality

How can we sustain both our planet and ourselves? The new science of ecospirituality has some ideas and some suggestions to try.

Lessons from the Holocaust for Today

Why did humans show so much hatred and indifference toward fellow humans during the Holocaust? Psychology provides some answers that have implications for today.