Young people get stuck. That’s okay.
Mental health difficulties. Behavioural problems. Substance misuse. Perhaps a combination of these. Adolescents and their families often endure a long and arduous journey in pursuit of a way forward.
Since 2011, we’ve helped tens of thousands of adolescents (who we call fellows), and their families, find renewed hope and direction. Through unconditional warmth and safety, coupled with compassionate and timely confrontation, we walk alongside our fellows while they learn to recognise, acknowledge, and work on the issues they face.
Our 10-week English residential treatment, extensive aftercare, and thorough family programme has marked an important step towards recovery for fellows, aged 13-25, from around the world.
We are proud that our treatment programme here at Yes We Can Youth Clinics has proven successful. According to research by an independent bureau, 74% of our fellows no longer require specialised care following the completion of their treatment. We attribute the effectiveness of our treatment to a holistic approach. We work not only with the fellows, but also with their parents and caregivers. This allows to help families make an important step towards recovery.
You can read more about the aforementioned research results here.
Our treatment method is based on group dynamics. We believe that our fellows can find empathy, recognition, and hope in being a part of and witnessing the growth of those who are on similar journeys. While we know and have experienced the power of this systematic approach, we also recognise the need to meet each fellow’s individual needs. The structured and intensive 10-week programme (see below) is designed to gain insight into each fellow’s behaviour and the root causes that influence this.
While a fellow works through their treatment at the clinic, their parents or carers take part in a parallel family coaching and counselling programme. This culminates in the fifth week of a fellow’s treatment, where parents or carers get to discuss sensitive and pressing issues with their child in a structured, therapeutic setting. Thereafter, there is an opportunity for a fellow and their family to bond and connect during a light-hearted, fun-focused activity. We refer to this week as a fellow’s ‘bonding week’. After the ‘bonding week’, families continue to receive support to ensure that they have all the tools to facilitate their child’s return home in a way that is beneficial for all parties.
The three elements below underpin our care, helping us help fellows and their families find peace, fulfilment, and happiness.
Our atmosphere: The safety, warmth, and sense of being understood of our fellows is non-negotiable. We know that rebuilding trust is key for those who have endured a long journey through the healthcare system and grapple with complex and often multiple. Many of our colleagues have experienced and overcome similar issues themselves, meaning that they can empathise with and relate to our fellows. This creates a group dynamic built on trust, honesty, and belief, which in turn supplies our fellows with the will and strength to change.
Our multidisciplinary team: We pride ourselves on our multidisciplinary approach. Psychiatrists and registered clinical psychologists collaborate with expert-by-experience counsellors, youth coaches, and our medical staff to ensure a 360-degree care coverage. In total, more than 500 professionals work with and for our fellows.
Our programme: Our fellows participate in a holistically designed programme over their 10 weeks of residential treatment. This doesn’t just help young people break self-destructive patterns, but starts them on a journey to live a full, balanced, and fulfilling life. Therapeutic components, such as group and individual therapy, are supplemented with daily physical exercise and varied enrichment activities such as art, music, and other cultural pursuits. The programme includes, but is not limited to, the following therapies:
Beyond therapy, sport and outdoor activities are a crucial part of our process. Not only does this allow fellows to improve their overall health, but it assists them with building self-confidence, learning to set boundaries, practicing discipline, and improving their social skills. From our renowned high ropes course to CrossFit, from martial arts to football, our fellows enjoy varied and challenging forms of exercise.
Additionally, to enrich the experience of our fellows, broaden their horizons, and teach them skills that will assist them on their journey of recovery, we offer a variety of cultural activities too. Whether it's art, music, dancing, or one of our other diverse activities, fellows often reconnect with an old hobby or discover an entirely new passion.
For a detailed and technical overview of our approach, you can read the following document.
The young people in our care often struggle with low self-esteem, a fear of failure, authority problems, reduced motivation, and communication problems. This means that parents or carers who try to assist them are regularly left frustrated, confused, and demoralised. More often than not, these family members blame themselves or others for their child’s behaviour. Our mandatory family programme was designed to remedy these issues. Through it, we can ensure that families are equipped to safely receive their child back into their homes while knowing how to support their recovery without compromising on peace.
Completing our 10-week, intensive residential treatment is no small feat. We are immensely proud of the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice that our fellows put into turning their lives around. It takes maturity beyond their years to commit to this journey at their age, and the progress that they make in such a short time beggars belief. Moreover, the families of the young people in our care also invest untold amounts of time, effort, and resources into helping get their loved ones back on track. As such, the completion of a fellow’s treatment is a moment of joy and appreciation for the collective efforts of all parties involved.
However, this moment also marks the onset of the most crucial phase of the recovery process. While self-confidence, motivation, and energy are high, it is the best time to solidify the foundations upon which a happy, peaceful, and fulfilling life can be built.
Our aftercare assistance is designed to support fellows as they return to environments that pose challenges not found in the confines of our clinic. Since we assist fellows and families worldwide, our aftercare is delivered through our signature protocol, Yes We Do online. This programme consists of three weekly virtual group sessions over a 10-week period. Each group session is 90-minutes long, allowing our fellows to get comprehensive support and guidance in applying the tools they gained in the clinic to everyday life. Facilitated by our experienced recovery coaches, these sessions are a safe space for fellows to share about their journey back to regular life. Additionally, these sessions allow fellows to keep in touch with other young people who are at the same stage of their lives, offering them an opportunity for connection, empathy, and motivation.
For more information about our aftercare programme, please visit the following page.
We hold our worldwide network of healthcare professionals in the highest regard. Family doctors, social workers, and specialist healthcare professionals and institutions refer families to us and take part in the process of a fellow’s recovery. With your approval and involvement, we regularly update your child’s healthcare and support providers at home. This allows them to follow their progress, gain additional insight, and identify how to best support your child upon their departure from Yes We Can.
First, we want to commend you for your courage and strength. This journey can be daunting, and the fact that you are even considering it is testament to the love and care you have for your child.
Below is an overview of our intake and treatment process. Please note that all of the steps below are done remotely. Additionally, during this process, your assigned case manager will be in regular contact with you through video calls, regular phone calls, and emails. Rest assured that you’ll be supported throughout.
Filling out our intake form provides us with information that allows us to process your application carefully and efficiently. Once you have submitted the form, you will be contacted by one of our case managers within 24 hours so that we can get to know you.
Please note that submitting this form bears no obligations, and that we handle your information with the utmost care. You can read more about this in our privacy policy.
If anything is unclear or if you have any other questions, please feel free to call us on +31 (0)85 02 01 222.
After receiving the required documentation, such as referral letters and consent forms, we perform a suitability screening. This thorough process features input from our psychiatrists, psychologists, and case managers. To uphold the highest quality of treatment, we ensure that every fellow who enters our care is a fit for our programme. You can read more about our inclusion criteria here.
We know that this step of an already long and taxing process can be particularly uneasy. That’s why we strive to assist you every step of the way, throughout all of your interactions with your health insurer.
As soon as our clinical team issues their screening approval, we begin working on getting insurance authorisation. Since we help families from across the world, having proudly received fellows from over 60 countries, the extent of insurance coverage varies geographically. However, over our years of experience we have built an extensive, international network of relationships with insurance brokers and agencies. This allows us to maximise the chances that your loved one gets the help they need. You can read more about our relationships with specific insurers and brokers here.
Please note that our treatment can also be funded privately, without the involvement of health insurance.
Once all of the practical formalities are finalised, we conduct a motivational interview with your loved one. This interview, conducted via a video call, is our first meeting with your child. It’s an opportunity for us to get to know them on a human level, assess their motivation to come to Yes We Can, and provide them with courage and hope.
While we know that motivation levels fluctuate considerably in young people, and this is particularly true for those who need support, it is vital that those in our care have some desire to turn their lives around. Our fellows enjoy unconditional support and warmth throughout their treatment, but the first step needs to come from them.
During this call, your child will also be free to ask any questions they have about Yes We Can and what to expect during their stay.
All of the previous steps culminate in the start of your loved one’s 10-week stay with us. As detailed above, this stay will see them begin to see the underlying causes of their behaviour, break destructive patterns, make lifelong friendships, and lay the foundations for a beautiful life. While your loved one goes through the beginnings of their recovery journey, you will take part in our family coaching and counselling programme. This prepares you to safely receive them back at home and support them upon their return. Additionally, during your child’s fifth week of treatment, you will get a chance to raise your concerns in a healthy and structured setting before bonding with them and reconnecting.
Aftercare is arguably the most critical phase of your loved one’s treatment process. Upon leaving our clinic, fellows have renewed self-confidence, optimism, momentum, and most importantly, a sense of accomplishment. Completing a stay at Yes We Can is a tremendous achievement. 10-weeks of a daily commitment to push past one’s comfort zone and acknowledge and act on one’s own flaws. It is natural to celebrate the day that your child successfully completes their treatment. However, lasting change requires continued work.
Our Yes We Do online programme allows our fellows from around the world to stay connected to a support system and community dedicated to healthy decisions and future growth. This aftercare programme consists of three weekly virtual group sessions over 10 weeks. Each session is 90-minutes long, giving our fellows comprehensive support and guidance in applying and cementing what they learned at the clinic. Facilitated by our experienced recovery coaches, these sessions are a safe space for fellows to share about their journey back to regular life.
You can read more about our aftercare progamme here.
Would you like to register for an intake now? Please fill in our intake form. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to call us at +31 (0)85 02 01 222.
Intake form