The psychotherapy community is mourning the loss of Victor Yalom, founder of Psychotherapy.net, educator, entrepreneur, artist, and psychotherapist, who died on February 26, 2026, at the age of 66. His passing has been met with profound sadness by family, friends, colleagues, and mental health professionals around the world who were inspired by his lifelong commitment to advancing psychotherapy education.
Victor was the son of renowned psychiatrist Dr. Irvin Yalom and Marilyn Yalom, growing up in Palo Alto, California, in a family deeply devoted to learning, creativity, and human understanding. From an early age, he displayed an entrepreneurial spirit, pursuing ventures that ranged from performing magic shows to operating small businesses before eventually finding his life’s calling in psychology and education.
After earning his doctorate from the California School for Professional Psychology, Victor founded Psychotherapy.net with a simple but transformative vision: to make the world’s greatest psychotherapy teachers accessible to students and clinicians everywhere. What began with recording the work of his mentor, James Bugental, evolved into one of the most respected educational platforms in the mental health profession. Through carefully curated videos, interviews, and training resources, Victor helped generations of therapists observe master clinicians in practice, fundamentally changing how psychotherapy is taught.
His work preserved the teachings of influential therapists while introducing contemporary leaders in the field to audiences worldwide. Colleagues admired his curiosity, creativity, and determination to make high-quality clinical education available to professionals at every stage of their careers.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Victor embraced creativity in many forms. He was an accomplished cartoonist known for insightful psychotherapy-themed humor, as well as a painter, sculptor, aspiring saxophonist, chess enthusiast, table tennis player, and lover of dance. Friends remember him as someone whose imagination and playful spirit enriched every room he entered.
Victor is survived by his devoted wife, Marie-Helene Yalom, who partnered with him in expanding Psychotherapy.net; his children, Lenore and Jason; his siblings, Eve, Reid, and Ben Yalom; and many extended family members, friends, and colleagues who will continue to cherish his memory.
His family has shared that Victor experienced periods of mental illness throughout his life. Although he enjoyed many years of personal fulfillment and professional success, he struggled again during the final year of his life. They have openly shared that he died by suicide, hoping their honesty helps reduce stigma surrounding mental illness while encouraging compassion and understanding.
Those who knew Victor will remember not only the educational platform he built, but the generosity, humor, vision, and humanity he brought to everything he did. His influence continues through the countless therapists, students, educators, and clients whose lives have been positively impacted by his work.
Victor Yalom leaves behind a remarkable legacy of innovation, lifelong learning, and dedication to improving mental health education. His contributions will continue shaping the psychotherapy profession for years to come, while his memory lives on in the hearts of all who knew and admired him.
May he be remembered with gratitude, compassion, and enduring respect.
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