DeShara Doub

DeShara C. Doub is a compassionate and servant leader, mental health professional, social worker, public speaker, and educator, who has an unwavering commitment to social justice and equality for oppressed and underserved populations. She is the founder and chief executive officer of Vision of Promise LLC. DeShara is a Marriage and Family Therapy Associate, through the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Her therapeutic approach is collaborative and utilizes a common factor’s framework, recognizing that people are the expert in their lives. Her clinical emphasis includes Multicultural, Pre-marital and Couples, Death/End of Life, Grief/Loss, Spirituality, Religion, and Racial trauma.

DeShara earned a Bachelor of Science in Communication, with a minor in Pan African Studies, and a Master of Science in Social Work, with a specialization in Couple and Family Therapy, all from the University of Louisville. She earned a certificate in Black Church Studies from Louisville Seminary, along with an Ordained Minister credential. DeShara is pursuing her Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work, with a research focus on Mental Health in the African American church. Amongst her educational credits, DeShara has completed Level 1 C.P.E. in accordance with the standards of the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education and a certified Prepare/Enrich premarital and couples facilitator. Her range of clinical experiences include hospital chaplaincy in the areas of palliative care, oncology, neonatal, and emergency room, trauma and sexual assault care, educational and residential youth services (ages 13-18), non-custodial fatherhood program, residential facility for the treatment of chemical dependency, and private practice settings.

DeShara has received several awards for her commitment to advocacy, social justice, and mental health, including the MSSW Outstanding Student recognition, the Graduate Dean Citation, the Raymond A. Kent Student Award, Engagement, and Service Awards from the University of Louisville. DeShara was honored as Today’s Woman Magazine’s 2021 Way to Go Woman in Leadership, the 2021 Dr. Annie Lawrence Brown Mental Health Award winner for the Central Region, and an Outstanding Educator for Mental Health Practitioner at the 2020 JCPS Educators of Color Celebration. In addition, DeShara was the recipient of the Hometown Hero Award through the Office of Black Church Studies and Advance Learning at Louisville Seminary, received the Community Impact Award from the Kentucky Alliance Against Racial and Political Oppression, and extended the invitation to join the Golden Key International Honour Society, an honor only received by top performing graduate students.

DeShara holds memberships in several civic, service and professional organizations including a professional member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, and a Mental Health Awareness Team contributor to the Black With No Chaser, Melanated Mental Health Awareness Podcast.