Peter Adriaenssens

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Who is Peter Adriaenssens?

Peter Adriaenssens studied child and adolescent psychiatry. He founded the  Vertrouwenscentrum Kindermishandeling in Leuven, where he served as director, specialising in trauma, domestic violence, and trauma therapy. In addition to being a systemic and family therapist, he became a recognised trainer at Context and was head of child psychiatry at UZ Leuven from the outset and later head of residential care for young teenagers

Peter Adriaenssens studied child and adolescent psychiatry. He founded the Vertrouwenscentrum Kindermishandeling in Leuven, where he served as director, specialising in trauma, domestic violence, and trauma therapy. In addition to being a systemic and family therapist, he became a recognised trainer at Context and was head of child psychiatry at UZ Leuven from the outset and later head of residential care for young teenagers.

Peter Adriaenssens was asked to assist in various high-profile cases of child abduction and abuse because of his specific expertise. The Adriaenssens Commission investigated sexual abuse in the Church in 2010.

He received the Prize of the Flemish Community, among other awards, for his social commitment. In 2016, he received the Grand Medal of Honour of the Flemish Community for his services to Flanders. Since 2004, he has also been involved in the work of Sister Jeanne Devos and her National Domestic Workers Movement in India, which fights against exploitation and child labour. Peter was also instrumental in setting up the Red Nose Fund. As chairman of the Child Poverty Fund within the King Baudouin Foundation, he continued the fight against inequality until recently.

As an experienced trauma therapist, he wrote the book Het kind van de rekening (The Child of the Bill) in 2020, which was part of Hilde Van Mieghem's (Canvas) series “Als je eens wist” (If only you knew). 

After many lectures to sold-out audiences, a new book, De Flexgeneratie (The Flex Generation), was published in October 2025, in which he compiles his insights on the position of young people in this complex world and how we can deal with it.

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  • Young people, smartphones and media use: it IS our concern, why and what can we do?

    Young people, smartphones and media use: it IS our concern, why and what can we do?

    We know only too well that social media such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok are contributing to the negative self-image of too many young people, increasing anxiety and depression, and even being linked to vandalism, bullying and other anti-social behaviour. There are also concerns about attention, concentration and academic performance.

    So much for the bad news.

    But there is also good news. How young people are supported by others in vulnerable moments, can share problems discreetly at home, can get help outside professional counsellors. They find new hobbies, find information quickly and are encouraged to think creatively.

    How can we sum all this up?

    First of all, we need to ask ourselves why social media are so popular. They cleverly exploit what is going on in young people's brains. Once you have a better understanding of this, you can think more concretely about how vulnerable your child is. 

    Besides, isn't it time to start worrying about the adults who are developing apps to target young people and lure them into addictive hours of screen time? Is the games industry even remotely interested in the mental health of its users? Adults have discovered the youth market and are making a lot of money from it. Aren't we looking at the wrong side of the problem? With parents in several countries being taken to court because their child has been exposed to harmful information through social platforms, something seems to be happening. 

    There is no miraculous answer. But those who are aware of the opportunities and dangers of social platforms are in a stronger position. 

  • Wherever you are (on the paths of trauma and healing)

    My professional life as a child psychiatrist revolved around the theme of trauma in the broadest sense of the word. As a result, I carry many voices within me. I once wanted to connect them with that other language that lives within me, that of puppet theatre. Could I reach people other than those who attend a traditional lecture? Could I use this medium to share insights and invite reflection?

    After a series of try-outs in Flanders and the Netherlands, the conversation with the audience became an integral part of the performance. Puppet theatre and dialogue together make a performance no longer “for” but “by” the audience.

    Perhaps you think that a story about trauma is not for you.

    It exists in many degrees and layers. There are those who experience the terrible. And there are the many among us who are coming closer to it today, now that we are living in times of crisis. No one expected that a virus would paralyse us worldwide. We couldn't even catch our breath, because a war began that we were promised would never happen again. And that wave of energy bills was also unforeseen. Are you trying to watch the news less to stay optimistic?

    What could we learn from Jan Klaassen and Katrijn, who wielded the cudgel in the 18th and 19th centuries and for whom beating up women was standard humour? How are they doing today, how do people who have been through a lot manage to get back on their feet? Nothing has to be the way it is. In this production, I follow the voices of those who have experienced trauma but cannot find solace in what works for most people. They are searching for a path without a comprehensive guide. What happened is beyond their control. But those who take the time to listen to their bodies realise that it is our minds that keep us afraid. Trauma does not wait for permission and strikes where you least expect it. Can life with a dent be embraced, not as a deficiency but as a different kind of strength? “You have to try to understand someone who is different from you,” says a puppet, and that is what I myself have learned.

    Wherever you are is, on the one hand, about the unexpected. How memories, sounds and glances can suddenly take us back in time. On the other hand, it is about the importance of connection, the gift of family, friends, colleagues who listen, who welcome you. What was taken away comes back: a voice, but who is there for you then? It is precisely through connection with others that voices can evolve and find unity again. You have come to listen and to watch. A fabric is growing. Wherever you are, you are there too.

  • Raising young people: the flex generation seeks guidance.

    Is there any task more difficult than raising teenagers? What about smartphones, social media, sex and drugs, and a worldview in flux? Many parents find themselves at their wits' end during those turbulent teenage years, overwhelmed by the overload of parenting advice. But what if we take a look at brain scans of adolescent brains? If we look at those adolescent years from the perspective of constant development? Then we get a completely different picture. Because an adolescent brain is still developing between the ages of 12 and 25! This explains why many young adults and their parents still often stumble and struggle. In this lecture, Peter Adriaenssens outlines what happens in all those young minds during those crucial years and how the environment plays an important role in this. How can knowledge help to support young people's skills and bolster their resilience? Don't expect a step-by-step plan, but rather a guide to navigating those turbulent teenage years with greater flexibility! 
     

  • Trauma

    Trauma and violence: this lecture discusses child abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence, trauma therapy and aspects of these.

    What is the impact of trauma and how can we address it at school and at home, and as a society? Why is non-violent cohabitation so important and is this approach science-based?

  • Adolescent brain in stressful times

    How do we help youth be well prepared for other times

    Covid, war, the climate crisis, young people today must learn to respond resiliently and flexibly to a reality that is changing at high speed. Living naturally is no longer possible today. An unstable world attacks a developing adolescent brain. This has an impact on attention and concentration, planning schoolwork, quality of memory. But also on achieving emotional balance. Finding joy in life and also giving grief and anger a place in it. Social media worry us because of their impact on impulsive brain areas. But it's not just about that brain; the environment has a huge influence on it. How do young people learn from a generation of parents who knew little adversity, who were convinced that everything can be managed? 

    Fear rules the world it is said, but we should not see it so dramatically. From what is happening now, young people are also learning new skills that will strengthen them on their journey. How do we together embrace the complexities of this world, hold onto their dreams and offer perspective on a world waiting for them.

    After a one-hour lecture, there will be an opportunity for questions and interaction.

Em. Prof. dr. Peter Adriaenssens, child and youth psychiatrist, adopted a unique and accessible approach to make existing knowledge more tangible. With a lot of compassion and courage, he addressed sensitive issues in his lecture on trauma. This made it possible to see and understand the impact of trauma and violence, and the consequences at mental, physical and emotional level. He did not shy away from subjects such as despair, pain, emptiness, loneliness and parenthood. Peter was also very honest when he answered the many questions from the audience. He offered an insight into roles and patterns that can traumatise victims of violence for many years.

H.L. peer association for trauma victims

Manager

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His insight into today's complex task of parenting was very useful.

P.B.

Participating mother/teacher