About Us

Emotional support is not a luxury, it is a fundamental human need.

Ilana O’Malley began her work in holistic well-being through reflexology and gradually expanded her understanding of the connection between mind, body, and soul. Over 25 years, she has supported athletes, entrepreneurs, and people from all walks of life in their personal growth, emotional well-being, and resilience.

In 2020, her work in rehabilitation and addiction recovery deepened her curiosity about human behavior: what drives us, what shapes our emotional responses, and why we make the choices we do. This led her to study with Robbins-Madanes Training (RMT), founded by Cloé Madanes and Tony Robbins.

Then came October 7, 2023.

Like so many others, Ilana knew people directly affected by the tragedy. Among them was Avishag, the daughter of a longtime friend, whose partner, Yochai Ben Zechariah, was murdered at the Nova music festival.

While supporting Avishag and others, Ilana saw how many people were falling through the cracks, unable to access emotional support because their circumstances did not fit existing systems. She wanted to volunteer and invite colleagues around the world to join her, but she could not find an organization offering the kind of support she envisioned.

She had no technical background, but she knew the need was real. On October 13, 2023, she began. What started with a few conversations quickly grew into a network of professionals from different countries, cultures, and disciplines, all willing to give their time and expertise to help others.

As antisemitism rose worldwide, the mission expanded beyond Israel, reaching Jewish communities and others facing fear, isolation, and uncertainty. Today, Planetherapy brings together more than 250 volunteer professionals offering support in 22 languages across 35 countries.

Ilana’s commitment to this work has also been recognized by Robbins-Madanes Training, which awarded her support toward her continued studies.

Planetherapy was founded in loving memory of Yochai Ben Zechariah, ז״ל, and is dedicated to all those who lost their lives on October 7 and in the war that followed. Their stories deserve to be remembered, and their lives must never be reduced to statistics.

Ilana is deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey, whether for a short time or from the very beginning. Every contribution has helped bridge the distance between those seeking support and those willing to offer it.

What began with a few conversations has become a global mission, rooted in a simple but powerful belief: human connection can change lives.