Dr. Andrea F. Polard first became a psychologist in Germany at the Freie University of Berlin in 1993. Besides working in research at her Alma Mater, she enjoyed working with multi-symptomatic children, adolescents and their families for various District offices of Berlin. When she immigrated to the U.S. in 1994, she had to get her second MA degree in Counseling Psychology and a doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology at Ryokan College (1998). For two years, Dr. Polard worked in convalescent homes and halfway houses, where she was trained in various methods of psychological and neuroscience testing. She also worked at the Primal Institute for three years, where she conducted group and individual therapy with trauma survivors, many of whom were recovering from substance abuse. After this intense training, she yearned to work more holistically. Her subsequent, diverse training included Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Relational Therapy, Mindfulness and Mind/Body work. Finally, in 2012, she founded the Los Angeles Center for Zen Psychology, where she saw many adolescents and adults who recovered from substance abuse, trauma, depression, and anxiety.
Andrea loves to write blog articles for Psychology Today. Her first published book —A Unified Theory of Happiness—received international attention. She loves to hike in nature and lives with her family and her dog in the quiet mountains of Topanga.
Paradigm Treatment is part of the Altior Healthcare family of mental health treatment providers.