Today we’d like to introduce you to Vonetta McClunie.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Please note my email address was entered wrong. It did not auto correct. Please correct in your system or I won’t get emails. [email protected]. Thanks
Hi, when I graduated from high school, I pretty much knew that I wanted to pursue a medical/health profession. So, I enrolled in Howard University in Wash. DC in 1991 intending to pursue pre-med. I believe God had another plan for me, because I changed my major to Occupational Therapy. I began to work with neurodiverse children in the public school system. I found this work both rewarding and challenging. Overall, it was a blessing to work with both staff and students. Not long after working professionally, my own child was diagnosed with Autism. I was 26 yrs. old. Back to God ordering my steps, this is one of the best careers to work with this population of children. In addition, God placed a village of people (family, friends, co-workers, etc. in my life to journey with me during this time. My daughter is now a beautiful 29-year-old woman! I felt God was calling me to do more with HIS gifts for me. It was revealed that marriage and family were the themes that kept ruminating within me. Marriages and families need support. So, I decided to attend Friend’s University in 2013 to become a Marriage and Family Therapist. I believe marriage and familial relationships lay the foundation for healthy communities. I worked at a non-profit for women named Gateway of Hope for in 2017 for 7yrs where I was an instrument of HOPE for a diversity of women. I am currently working in private practice for 8yrs working with individuals, couples, and families. The mission I am called to do here is grounded in TRUTHH-Transformational Revelation & Understanding Through Hope and Healing. I also work with my husband in marriage/ family ministry as we work to strengthen, heal and inspire the marital/family unit. In addition, I work with other women mental health practitioners organizing events for women, i.e. seminars, event to foster education, connection, healing and empowerment through an organization titled UNBOUND. I believe God is continuing to direct my path to where he wants me to go. There is Kingdom work to do!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
NO! BUT BLESSING ARE IN THE DETAILS OF THE STRUGGLES! My story begins with being raised by a divorced mom ad with an older brother. born in KCMO. Both my parents were educators. Before the age of 3 my parents divorced and father had left (1st experience of abandonment). We had to relocate to another affordable living arrangement (1st experience of transition). My mom remarried a person who was unhealthy which contributed to us having to flee to a DV women’s shelter at the age of 9(2nd transition). Uncertainty of future, led us to move to Michigan with family (3rd transition) but it was an unhealthy situation unbefitting my family. We moved back to KC (4th transition) We stayed with a family friend until my mom was able to secure a house when I was 10 (5th transition), God has always provided a landing pad! We stayed here and during my 7th grade year my mom was diagnosed with colon cancer and needed to have emergency surgery. We believe God spared her life to prepare us for her departure from this earth. She died during my 9th grade year (2nd abandonment). I moved with my paternal grandmother (6th transition) until I was asked to leave due to my behavior of isolation and its impact. Some family systems do not know how to adaptively support people navigating loss. My brother dropped out of college and we relocated to Colorado with my paternal uncle my 11th grade year (7th transition). God sent a caretaker! After this are the college years. I headed off to Howard University in Wash. D.C. to study Occupational Therapy. I became pregnant my last year of college. I was a working mom who temporarily had to apply for medicaid. I do believe God was watching over me and ordered my steps because my daughter was diagnosed with Autism and the professional degree, I chose to pursue was one of the best ones that could understand and advocate for her. I was involved in an unhealthy relationship and ended up relocating back to KC. I was blessed with spiritual godparents, uncle, and aunt to assist with the transition. God sent me back to rebuild, reconnect, and restore. I had to address memories and heal unresolved wounds.
I have experienced pervasive themes of abandonment, rejection, and isolation from others and yet God has always been there to provide. God is full circle. He has currently blessed me to support people to thrive in the midst of similar challenges that I too have had to journey and overcome!
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m both an Occupational Therapist and a Marriage and Family Therapist. Currently I practice Marriage and Family Therapy. I work with individuals, couples, and families from pre-teen to seniors who are adversely impacted and need support with relationships, illness, injury, disease, trauma, loss, developmental concerns, etc. Specialized training includes Eye Movement Desensitization, (EMDR), Somatic Experiencing (SE), Pre-Marital and Marital Enrichment.
I believe I bring both a zeal and years of experience working with women marriages, teenagers, and neurodivergent people.
I think what sets me apart from some people is that I view life from a lens of Jesus. He is my example to model. I believe people know me for assisting people with trusting themselves to live in their true purpose. I work with others to limit their value, worth, and approval being determined by others. We are the stories we tell ourselves. I believe we have choice and voice in how we want our stories to be told, lived and defined. We don’t have to make decisions influenced by our past but instead learn and heal from them. We can live our authenticity based on our present and future aspirations..and yes it takes time, dedication and courage! You get to choose whether your life’s story will set a tone of empowerment or not. Living in truth is a journey and some journeys in life we are able to do alone and at other times we may need assistance. I love to be a part of people’s support network and assist them to a place where discovery, healing, and transformation can occur within the context of their genuine TRUTTH! (Transformational Revelation & Understanding Through Hope & Healing)
I’m proud of being both a Christian wife and mother. I am proud of both of my above stated professions where God uses me to join people as a catalyst for hope and healing. I am proud of working with my husband in marriage and family ministry to edify marriages and families through the foundation of God’s statutes. I am proud of having a village of supportive family and friends to journey with me through seasons of life. I’m also very proud of the community work I am involved in being a part of UNBOUND.
Our mission statement-We exist to joyfully partner with God in His redemptive work in the lives of women. Through a sacred, supportive space rooted in biblical truth and faith-centered therapy, we help women rediscover their God-given identity, walk in emotional and spiritual healing, and embrace their unique calling. Our heart is to empower women to grow in relationship with God, live with purpose, and boldly share His love—encouraging one another as we walk in obedience to the Great Commission.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs (book and podcast)
The Seven Principles of Making Marriage Work by Dr. John Gottman (book and Gottman Institute)
Prepare and Enrich
The Body Keeps The Score-Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk
The Nature of God-Donald Hastings and Marc Gibson
Love Me Tight by Dr. Susan Johnson
Boundaries by Dr. Henry Cloud and John Townsend (book and podcast)
Daring Greatly by Dr. Brene’ Brown
The Out of Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz
The Whole Brain Child by Dr. Daniel Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson
Pricing:
- Aetna insurance
- Sliding Scale rates based on GAI
- Work Place Options EAP
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.VonettaMcClunie.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vmcclunie/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vonettamcclunielmft/
