Dr. Shani Robins is a licensed psychologist and the founder of Wisdom Therapy™, a therapeutic approach he pioneered in 1998. He teaches psychology and wellness courses at a number of schools including Stanford University, Foothill College, and College of San Mateo.

Dr. Robins holds a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from UCLA, an M.A. and Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology from UC Santa Barbara, and a second Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. He has been a California Board Licensed Psychologist for over 20 years.

Blending the best of Western psychology—including Emotional Intelligence and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)—with Eastern practices like mindfulness, compassion, gratitude, and humility, Dr. Robins helps people reduce suffering and live with greater wisdom.

He specializes in psychotherapy for anxiety, anger management, and career counseling, working with individuals, couples, and groups. His integrative approach combines CBT, Mindfulness Meditation, and Wisdom Therapy to help clients lower stress and enhance well-being.

In this inspiring episode, Dr. Robins shares practical strategies and timeless wisdom to help you break free from anxiety, pain, and emotional struggles—whether you’re healing from an autoimmune condition or simply seeking to live a more meaningful life. Learn how to reframe challenges, overcome cognitive distortions, practice mindfulness, and cultivate self-compassion, gratitude, optimism, and humility. Dr. Robins shows us how to be wiser and freer, starting with your very next thought.

Quote: “How we think significantly influences how we feel.”

What’s inside this episode?

02:26 How wisdom and well-being can be defined when it comes to dealing with and healing chronic illness 

13:54 Wise vs. unwise thought patterns, and the understanding that how we think directly correlates with how we feel  

20:05 How we can approach and respond to new health challenges in a wiser and more skillful way

25:26 Understanding mindfulness as a practiced skill that allows us to consciously observe our thoughts and create the opportunity to shift them

35:35 How shifting our perspective through actively changing our biological default for survival and practicing gratitude frees us from suffering 

43:50 How we can practice more humility, self-compassion, and optimism

59:00 Final words from Shani on the practice of living a wise life

Resources mentioned:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) workbooks:

Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think - https://amzn.to/4i8pW7S

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy - https://a.co/d/6jUl00S

Shani’s website: Wisdomtherapy.com

Want my help reversing an autoimmune condition?

If you are determined and committed to reclaiming your best health and life, I offer Functional Natural Medicine Autoimmune Reversal Programs over Zoom. Get on my calendar for a free 30-minute discovery call, here: https://palmerkippola.com/apply/