About:

"With three decades of experience in psychiatry, Dr. Ashish Deshpande is widely recognized for his pioneering work in addiction medicine and mental health advocacy in India. Originally drawn to psychiatry through the mentorship of Dr. Dungaji, his passion for human behavior and literature shaped a lifelong commitment to understanding the mind and helping individuals heal. As a psychiatrist, he combines medical expertise with psychotherapeutic approaches such as CBT, DBT, Motivational Enhancement Therapy, and Group Facilitation, offering holistic care to those facing addiction, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Founder of CMARS and MOUJ, and a former Class A Trustee of Alcoholics Anonymous India, Dr. Deshpande has spent over 25 years engaging with recovery communities across the country, guided by the principle: “If you can’t help somebody, it’s alright — but don’t harm.”"