The Yes We Can Healthcare Group was founded by Jan Willem and Petra Poot. On this page, we take you through their lives and how Yes We Can came into being.
From the age of 12 until he was 27, Jan Willem struggled with behavioural and addiction problems, caught in an ever-deepening negative spiral that affected not only himself but also his family and those around him.
Jan Willem: “Inevitably, that path leads to care institutions, day programmes and clinics – I’ve been through many of them. I knew exactly what the psychologists wanted to hear, and that’s what I gave them. Yet the pain, the fear and the helplessness I lived with were immense. They couldn’t help me out of it, simply because they never gained my trust – I didn’t trust them. I believe that many young people cannot truly change within these institutions. They need something more – other carers who can actually reach them.
On 16 November 2004, I arrived at a place where barely any questions were asked. Instead, someone simply began to share his story, instead of me being forced, yet again, to retell mine. For one full hour, I listened breathlessly. So much recognition. So many familiar thoughts. So many of the same wrong choices… so much the same! Finally, a connection! I felt warmth. This man understood me. He cut straight through my pretence. I trusted him – this man could help me. I committed myself fully! They gave me lessons that truly mattered. They held up a mirror to me again and again. They gave me a realistic structure. The one-to-one sessions with my own counsellor, the group therapies with people in similar situations but from all kinds of backgrounds, the physical training, the clear explanations… I began to change. From that day, I no longer needed to use, drink, manipulate or lie. I have been given a fantastic life.”
This video is more than just a look back. It is an ode to recovery, to trust, to togetherness. A conversation that touches you deeply – and stays with you.
