The present research takes an in-depth look at the lives of young people with traumatic personal experiences and describes the efforts to help them in intensive individual educational programmes at home and abroad How can intensive 1:1 social education support young people to lead an autonomous and selfdetermined life that is acceptable to both them and society at large? What do the various stakeholders say about the collaboration process of creating support plans and which effects do the plans have on the young people and their families? Which conclusions can be drawn from those answers to improve the quality of work in the intensive social education sector? These questions are at the core of this longitudinal study which looks at the cases of 7 young people and presents its results as questions for further research. This English translation is part of a more comprehensive German study.

born 1958 lives in Hamburg, is married and the father of two children. Qualified Social Education Worker (polytechnic), additional qualification in the field of experience education (Outward Bound), systematic and commitment based counsel and therapy. Active in youth welfare services for 20 years, conducted long-time programmes with adolescents (mobile and residential)