Vanguard — Thessaloniki, Greece
Rethinking Mental Health. Together.
Non-coercive, rights-based approaches to psychological care. For over 15 years, our work has centred on one fundamental belief: that people experiencing psychological distress deserve care that respects their dignity, autonomy, and human rights.
Welcome
Welcome to Vanguard
Vanguard is a laboratory of systemic ideas, research, and intervention based in Thessaloniki, Greece. We provide clinical services, professional training, and advocacy for humane alternatives to traditional psychiatry.
We reject the notion that coercion is an acceptable response to crisis. Instead, we develop and implement systemic approaches that honour each person's lived experience and support recovery on their own terms.
Our approach integrates systemic psychotherapy, critical psychiatry perspectives, and community-based care models drawn from international best practices. We work with individuals, families, and systems—always seeking to understand distress in its relational and social context rather than reducing it to individual pathology.
What We Offer
Our Core Areas
Clinical Services
Individual, couple, and family psychotherapy using systemic, EMDR, and drama therapy approaches. Specialised support for psychosis, trauma, and crisis — without coercion.
Learn MoreProfessional Training
The Radical Care of Psychoses programme and specialised workshops for mental health professionals seeking non-coercive, rights-based approaches.
View ProgrammesFree Services
Accessible mental health support for those facing financial barriers. Quality care is a human right, not a privilege.
Find Out MoreResearch & Publication
Scholarly work advancing alternatives to coercive psychiatry, including the book A Clinician's Guide to Radical Care Beyond Institutional Walls (Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2025).
View PublicationsOur Approach
Grounded in Rigour. Committed to Rights.
Our work is grounded in scientific rigour, ethical practice, and systemic understanding. We translate theory into practice without oversimplifying complexity.