Updates and Developments

The suffering and experiences shared by fellows and their families who have spoken out leave no one unaffected. We take these experiences seriously, without reservation. We do not believe it is appropriate to comment on or debate individual experiences. They should not be the subject of debate.

To every fellow who, over the past 15 years, experienced something at Yes We Can (Youth) Clinics that was painful, harmful or crossed personal boundaries, we offer our sincere apologies.

Nor is it for us to comment on journalists or their reporting. Doing so could unintentionally give fellows who are unhappy with Yes We Can (Youth) Clinics the impression that we do not take their experiences seriously.

Over the past 15 years, Yes We Can (Youth) Clinics has treated more than 10,000 young people, with predominantly positive outcomes. These are reflected, among other places, in the reviews on Zorgkaart Nederland. Nevertheless, the recent media coverage has prompted us to carry out a comprehensive internal review of our past, our way of working, and any further changes that may be needed. We have informed the Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) (read updates on the IGJ investigation here). In addition, we are in contact with health insurers and municipalities about these matters.

Where recent media reports contain factual inaccuracies, we address them in the questions below.

Treatment is always delivered under the clinical responsibility of BIG-registered healthcare professionals.

More than 120 clinicians work within our organisation, including psychiatrists, healthcare psychologists, clinical psychologists, psychologists, nurses and educational psychologists. In addition, approximately 15 experts by experience work in the clinic. Experts by experience provide complementary support but are not independently responsible for treatment.

They work together in multidisciplinary teams, ensuring that treatment decisions are informed by multiple professional perspectives. These teams meet twice a day to coordinate care carefully and ensure that each young person receives the treatment they need.

No. While parts of our treatment programme, including its structure and duration, are the same for all fellows, treatment is always individualised and tailored to each young person's needs.

Treatment is designed and delivered under the clinical responsibility of psychiatrists and other qualified practitioners, including psychologists and educational psychologists, with support from counsellors and youth coaches. Together, they determine the most appropriate treatment for each young person based on their individual needs, circumstances and clinical presentation.

We use a range of recognised, evidence-based treatment methods and apply them according to each young person's individual situation.

No. Sexual abuse is always and entirely the responsibility of the perpetrator. There is no doubt about that in our minds.

What we do aim to help fellows with is regaining a sense of control over their lives and their future, at their own pace and from their current situation. This is not about assigning blame for what happened. It is about strengthening their sense that they can make choices that help protect themselves and support their recovery in the future.

If anyone has experienced this differently, we take that very seriously.

Treatment is voluntary and can be ended at any time.

At the same time, if a young person wishes to stop treatment, we always begin by talking with them and encouraging them to continue. This is something we agree in advance with both fellows and their parents. We know that motivation can fluctuate throughout treatment and that difficult moments are often part of the recovery process.

Because we work with young people in vulnerable situations, it is important that these moments are managed with great care. As part of our duty of care, we also ensure that, where treatment ends prematurely, careful consideration is given to how ongoing care will be transferred. We recognise that this can be one of the most difficult moments in a young person's treatment. That is why we approach it with great care. At the same time, if a young person wishes to end their treatment, they are always free to do so. In 2025, more than 185 young people ended their treatment at Yes We Can (Youth) Clinics prematurely.

Yes. Our treatment incorporates evidence-based interventions, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Schema Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR). These treatment methods are widely used in child and adolescent mental healthcare, and their effectiveness is supported by scientific research.

Our treatment combines these evidence-based interventions within an intensive treatment programme and a structured therapeutic environment.

We also invest in scientific research ourselves. In addition, we continuously monitor treatment outcomes and use these insights to better understand what works, for whom and why.

We see this as an important part of our responsibility: not only to provide treatment, but also to continue learning, improving and strengthening the evidence base for our overall treatment approach.

We welcome the investigation by the Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) and believe it is both important and appropriate. We informed the IGJ that our preference was for the investigation to begin as soon as possible so that the questions that have been raised can be answered carefully and independently.

Transparency and independent oversight are an important part of how we operate. The IGJ has full access to our organisation, including the opportunity to speak with fellows and colleagues.

We will continue to share updates on the investigation as they become available.

No. Yes We Can (Youth) Clinics is a specialist mental healthcare provider and a member of De Nederlandse GGZ, the Dutch association of mental healthcare providers. We are regulated by the Dutch Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) and work with almost all health insurers and municipalities in the Netherlands.

Our treatment takes place in a close-knit therapeutic community, where young people support one another and a sense of connection plays an important role in the recovery process. At the same time, every young person's individuality is respected, and all treatment is delivered within clear professional and clinical frameworks by qualified practitioners.

We take every complaint and every concern seriously, whether it comes from current fellows, former fellows or their families.

We have a formal complaints procedure, an independent complaints committee and an independent confidential adviser. These channels are in place to ensure that complaints are handled carefully, fairly and independently.

At the same time, we believe it is important that people also feel able to contact us directly. If you have experienced something that you would like to share with us, we encourage you to get in touch. Whether it is a complaint, a concern, a question or simply a wish to talk about your experience, we are here to listen.

The concerns we have received in recent months have shown us that not every experience reached us at the time. We take that seriously and are using those insights to improve both our organisation and the way we listen to current and former fellows and their families. 

You can contact us on +31 (0)85 02 01 222. If you would prefer to share your experience in a different way, we are happy to discuss an approach that feels safe and appropriate for you.

Not as a general principle. In fact, the purpose of our treatment is the opposite. Our family programme is designed to help young people and their families rebuild trust, improve communication and make a fresh start together.

At the same time, we recognise that family relationships are often already under significant strain before treatment begins. Although our aim is always to support healthier relationships, we have not always been able to help families overcome long-standing patterns and dynamics.
In some cases, we do encourage fellows to establish healthy boundaries with people whose behaviour may undermine or jeopardise their recovery. That may include friends who continue to use alcohol or drugs, encourage harmful behaviour, or do not respect a fellow's recovery. Such guidance is always based on the individual's circumstances and is intended to support long-term recovery, not to isolate young people from their family or friends.

We also recognise that some fellows have experienced this differently, and we take those experiences seriously.