LaKisha Shears, LCSW-C, LICSW
Lakisha – Co-Owner & Therapist at DMV Wellness Center, LLC
Lakisha is a licensed clinical social worker serving the DMV area and Arkansas. She is also a Board-Approved Supervisor for LMSWs in Maryland and Virginia and LGPCs in Maryland. As co-owner of DMV Wellness Center, LLC, she brings deep passion, cultural wisdom, and over a decade of diverse experience to her work with Black individuals, families, and communities.
Raised in a tight-knit Black southern community, Lakisha was deeply influenced by the resilience and strength she witnessed around her. These early experiences shaped her passion for mental health advocacy, especially in underserved and disenfranchised populations. She earned her Master of Social Work from Morgan State University, where she developed the clinical knowledge and cultural insight needed to serve Black communities with empathy, precision, and authenticity.
Throughout her career, Lakisha has held roles in education, healthcare, domestic violence services, child and adult protective services, substance abuse, and outpatient mental health. Her work consistently centers those who are often overlooked or misunderstood by traditional therapeutic models.
Lakisha practices from a culturally grounded Black therapeutic lens, acknowledging the systemic, historical, and cultural realities that affect mental health. Her unique approach—often described as “half-holistic, half-hood”—is person-centered, trauma-informed, and solution-focused. She speaks truthfully and directly, using language that resonates with her community rather than conforming to Western norms of therapy. Her clients value her authenticity and the safe, non-judgmental space she creates to explore healing and growth.
At DMV Wellness Center, Lakisha leads what she calls "Hood/Trap Therapy"—a radically affirming approach tailored for those who may have never seen therapy as accessible or relevant to them. She serves clients who are often disenfranchised or disconnected from traditional mental health services, offering support that reflects both their lived experiences and cultural values.
In addition to her clinical work, Lakisha is a passionate community advocate. She actively engages in workshops, seminars, and support groups that aim to normalize mental health conversations within the Black community. Her mission is to destigmatize therapy and create spaces where Black people feel seen, heard, and valued.
Lakisha’s work is rooted in empowerment, collaboration, and cultural pride. She is unwavering in her commitment to showing up for her people, in her voice and on her terms—because, as she affirms, "Black Voice Matters in this space."
