For over 30 years, Paula Robbins has been a guiding light for those seeking healing, growth, and spiritual expansion. As the founder of Sunlit Pathways, Paula’s journey of transformation and recovery from a traumatic past has shaped her into a compassionate healer and mentor. Having experienced abuse, instability, and substance struggles beginning at the tender age of 12, her path to healing began through an extraordinary moment of divine intervention at 20. Now, Paula blends her personal experiences with her professional expertise as a Transpersonal Hypnotherapist, specializing in Cellular Release Therapy, Regression Therapy, and Spirit Releasement. Her intuitive gifts, paired with her holistic approach, empower individuals and groups alike to find balance, peace, and inner strength. In this Mystic Mag‘s interview, Paula opens up about her life’s mission, the healing modalities she offers, and how Sunlit Pathways serves as a beacon of light for those navigating their own journeys to empowerment and transformation.
Your journey to healing and recovery began at age 20 after a profound experience while hitchhiking. Can you share more about that moment and how it shaped the path you’re on today?
I didn’t realize how profound getting picked up while hitchhiking was until much later. I met a gentleman who was in recovery during that ride. At the time, I was just beginning to wake up to the awareness that I needed to be in recovery too. I was really struggling with alcohol and drugs, and I knew I needed to stop, but I didn’t know how.
The man who picked me up had been clean and sober for two years. He talked about the 12-step programs and his life, and I was very attracted to the idea of living a better way than I was. We stayed in touch for quite some time, and a few months later, I reached out to him and asked for his help.
It was because of that ride that we became friends, and because of that ride, he took me to my first 12-step meeting. The rest is history.
As a Metaphysician with a background in Transpersonal Hypnotherapy and other healing modalities, how do you integrate these practices to help others achieve balance and transformation?
I meet people where they are, depending on what they need support with. I do a lot of spiritual counseling and coaching, as well as intuitive readings. I also work with Cellular Release Therapy, a hypnotherapy technique that helps people release traumas, beliefs, fears, and core issues at the cellular level. It’s very deep healing work, and what I offer depends on the individual’s needs.
Some clients come to me for spiritual coaching and counseling, while others embrace the deep hypnotherapy work of Cellular Release Therapy. I also offer a membership, which includes a wider range of intuitive readings and group hypnotherapy sessions. Members have access to various online courses and guided meditations, providing them with ongoing support both from me and on their own. There are many avenues through which I help people.
What type of services do you offer?
I offer hypnotherapy, spiritual counseling, membership-based intuitive readings and other gatherings, and I also teach. I’ve also enjoyed teaching and speaking on various platforms all over the world.
Many people struggle to maintain optimism through difficult times. What are some practical steps you recommend for staying connected to inner peace and trust, even in the face of adversity?
The number one thing I encourage anyone to do is to develop a daily quiet time practice, a ritual if you will. Preferably in the morning, this practice sets the foundation for your day. Take time to get still, get quiet, and connect with divine energy. This can be through prayer, meditation, or breath work—whatever brings you to a state of peace, especially during difficult times. I also recommend adding a gratitude practice by listing what you’re grateful for each day. Starting your day with this quiet time, divine connection, and gratitude sets the foundation for a much better day. You’ll find yourself responding to situations rather than reacting, feeling lighter, more empowered, and more connected.
Additionally, I often recommend that people do their healing work. Most of us have deep-seated issues that need to be addressed, so find a modality or practitioner that can support you and commit to your healing journey.
How do you practice self-care to maintain your own well-being?
My daily quiet time is my number one tool. I start every single day with it. I listen to frequency music with earbuds, get quiet, and go through a very specific ritual that I follow every day, which takes about 20 minutes. I drink a lot of water, help others as much as I can, exercise, and try to eat well. Self-care involves many factors, and it’s very individual—what works for one person might not work for another.
One of the most important things for me is setting boundaries, not just with others, but often with myself. I tend to take on too much, wanting to help too many people and give my time and energy. So, setting boundaries with myself and recognizing when to say, “That’s enough for today” or “That’s enough for this project” is crucial. When I reach that point, I stop and take care of myself—whether it’s going for a walk, doing some exercise, drinking water, or eating a healthy meal—to ensure that I stay balanced.
Sunlit Pathways is all about walking together with courage and Divine Light. What does this philosophy mean to you, and how do you incorporate it into your work with individuals and groups?
Sunlit Pathways exists because there are several ways offered to help people support themselves. Whether it’s through one-on-one sessions with me or one of the other practitioners in our network, group sessions, memberships, or digital offerings like guided -meditations or recorded courses, the intention is to help people walk a path of greater enlightenment and trust in life. This involves discovering what they need to address and work on to live a better life, which requires courage.
Walking a path of self-awareness and self-care is not easy, but from my 17 years of experience in this practice, starting in 2007, I’ve seen how divine light, divine energy, and divine connection truly support people when they find the courage to engage in one-on-one sessions, join group activities, or even pursue their own individual growth through digital offerings.
There are different pathways we offer, and all of them require a little courage. Each one incorporates divine light to guide and support you along the way.
You are also an Author, and you are writing the book, can you tell us little bit more about that journey?
I’m very excited about the book. In fact, it’s the beginning of a series. The first book is about recovery, the second will focus on healing and addressing trauma, and the third will explore creating a self-care ritual of quiet time—what that looks like and why it’s so transformational. It’s a beautiful process that I’ve been working on for a very long time, and I’ve finally signed with a publisher. The first book is set to be released in early 2025. The working title is Shadow and Light: Beautiful Ugly Lessons in Recovery. All the books in the series will be titled Shadow and Light. I’m thrilled to be writing and sharing so many of the life lessons that have been incredibly transformative for me with the world.
