Peter Douglass Yeomans

August 27, 1968 - August 298, 2026

Peter Douglass Yeomans of Philadelphia passed away suddenly of natural causes on August 28, one day after his fifty-eighth birthday.

Peter was the beloved husband of Kate O’Shea and devoted father of Ada Ruby O’Shea-Yeomans, Josiah Yeomans, and Levi Yeomans. He is survived by his parents, Anne and Thomas Yeomans, his brother, Benjamin Yeomans (Kristin Jordan), his in-laws, Margaret and Daniel O’Shea, his brother-in-law, Dan O’Shea (Angie O’Shea), and his niece and nephews, Allie and Ryan O’Shea, and Landon and Ethan Yeomans.

He was director of the PTSD Clinical Team at the Philadelphia VA Medical Center and is author of the forthcoming book, Reclaiming Integrity After Moral Injury From War: Existential Insights and Interventions for Supporting Veterans (Routledge, 2027). In the preface to the book, he wrote, “My hope is that…veterans, their families, and their therapists find in the book useful perspectives and interventions to employ in what they might need in order to persevere.”

Peter helped develop a therapeutic and spiritual approach to treat the moral injuries sustained by military servicemembers. As part of the process, veterans share testimonies of these injuries in front of a public audience. Peter trained providers in the technique. The treatment, based on co-facilitation between therapists and chaplains, is being implemented in several VA facilities.

One of his colleagues wrote, “Peter guided, taught, and supervised countless therapists and trainees with his characteristic sense of trust in their capacity to do the task before them well. He never lost sight of the real task, and of the humanity of his patients, himself, and his colleagues. He was not afraid to let his patients affect him, move him, or even change him, and because he was so open-hearted in this work, he often was moved to tears by his patients' suffering, their vulnerability, their wisdom, and the beauty inherent in their healing.”

Peter’s colleague continued, “He was instrumental in the healing process for so many veterans that it is hard to fathom the reach of his influence, and his absence is felt deeply throughout the veteran community in Philadelphia. Those of us who worked with him can only hope to offer some portion of what we learned from him about this work.”

Peter was educated at Concord Academy and received his B.A. from Harvard College, and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Drexel University.

Peter was passionate about the wilderness, and loved hiking, backpacking, pack rafting, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Before receiving his Ph.D., he worked for almost a decade at the National Outdoor Leadership School in Wyoming, Utah, and Alaska. After moving to Philadelphia, he helped found the Wilderness Outdoor Leadership Force (WOLF) program to bring teens from Kensington to explore the outdoors. Peter started a small private therapy practice, Cold Mountain Counseling, often working with backcountry professionals, such as climbing and skiing guides, across the country.

Peter’s love for nature was only rivaled by his love for his family. And often he wove the two together. Starting at the age of four, Peter’s children accompanied him and Kate on nine-day backcountry backpacking trips in the Wind River Range of Wyoming. He guided family trips by modeling a profound appreciation of the Earth. On his website, he wrote, “I have spent countless nights sleeping on the ground – in deep winter snow, on desert sandstone, or tucked into a bivy high on a mountain pass or ledge. I once completed a late winter traverse of Denali National Park.... I have climbed routes on mountains from Alaska to Argentina. Many of the fondest memories of my life are from adventures in the mountains.”

Eventually, Peter’s children learned how to outpace him, and their appetites for hiking, cycling, and showing reverence and respect for the bounties of the outdoors is just one of his legacies. Peter was happiest spending time with his children, Ada, Josiah, and Levi. Together, they made and watched plays, attended live music shows, engaged in athletic activities, and loved to goof off (Pete, frequently in costume). His kids were core to who he was, and he guided them to figure out who they wanted to be.

Peter was a wonderful husband to Kate, his wife of twenty-four years. The couple met in nature (of course!) thirty years ago. Each morning, he brought her tea in bed, and left love notes if he had to go before she was awake. As Kate reflected, “We have our biggest challenge ahead of us, but I know Peter made us ready. He knew and believed that we could do hard things. We could climb higher mountains than we ever had. He never doubted any of us, and I know he knows we can do this big, hard thing: living, adventuring, and challenging ourselves, even without him.”

Because of Peter, our world is a kinder, more generous, and more loving place. He was devoted to his family and his work, and tireless in seeking the next adventure, almost always with friends and family by his side.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 3, at the Germantown Friends Meeting at 2pm. There will also be a livestream.

Donations in Peter’s memory can be made to recognize his dedication to the following causes: Western Resource Advocates for Peter’s concern for the climate and his love of the West; Friends of the Wissahickon for the countless hours he spent running and biking in the Wiss; Philadelphia Outward Bound for his devotion to helping veterans (please write Peter’s name in the “In Memory of…” section so that the funds are earmarked for the veteran programming).