10/07/2026
I’ve been thinking a lot about the death of Victor Yalom and about the unimaginable pain his family is carrying. My thoughts are especially with his father and all those who loved him. I want to offer them my deepest condolences and the strength to endure this profound loss.
What stays with me most is the reminder that being a psychotherapist is not a shield against suffering. Knowing about mental health, understanding human pain and spending our lives supporting others do not make us immune to our own struggles.
As a therapist, I sometimes encounter questions or unspoken expectations that because of my profession I must have no problems, or that everything difficult in my life is already resolved. That is far from truth. The truth is I experience grief, uncertainty, vulnerability, and moments of deep struggle, just like everyone else. And I try to remind this to my clients who sometimes seem to have an idealistic image of me. I am reminding to myself, when heavy things come my way, or when when I catch myself having the same assumption: as a psychotherapist, most of my old/deep pains and triggers should be solved already……
I’m holding this loss in my mind with sadness and humility. May Victor Yalom’s family find support, compassion, and moments of peace in the midst of their grief. And may we all remember, psychotherapists or people in care taking roles, that caring for others does not spare anyone from needing care themselves.
