Vernitta McQueen

MBA, MA, Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern

Pronouns: She / Her

Culturally Responsive Therapy for BIPOC Adults & Working Parents

Specialties: Generational Trauma, Religious Trauma, Depression and Anxiety, Trauma and PTSD, Life Coaching, Meditation and Mindfulness

(Ages: Adults)

License #IMH 28024 | Florida
Supervised by: Lindsey Coates Horvatich LMHC-QS #MH 15982

(786) 496-2826

Hello, I’m Vernitta. I work with BIPOC adults dealing with workplace stress, cultural identity questions, and patterns they recognize from their families but can’t quite shake. My training at Grand Canyon University gave me the clinical tools (CBT, mindfulness, trauma work), but the real skill was learning when to adapt them. What works for one person’s cultural background might feel completely off for someone else.

Who I Typically Work With

I’m a great fit for adults in their 30s-50s across Florida:

BIPOC professionals navigating workplace microaggressions, imposter syndrome, and burnout from code-switching in predominantly white environments.
Working parents who are balancing career demands, cultural expectations, and family responsibilities while maintaining their own well-being.
Adults carrying intergenerational trauma who recognize painful patterns from their families of origin but struggle to break these cycles.
Individuals experiencing religious trauma or spiritual transitions after leaving faith communities or navigating conflicts between cultural traditions and personal authenticity.

You might look like you have it all together from the outside. A successful career, handling responsibilities and showing up for the kids (and everyone else). But privately? You feel exhausted, stuck, and barely recognize yourself anymore.

My clients often describe:

Lying awake at 2 am replaying that racist comment. Should you say something tomorrow? Or are you overreacting?
Hitting the professional milestones, but still wondering why you still feel empty?
Holding it together, code-switching all day at work, and managing everyone else’s comfort. Then taking it out on your partner and kids at home.
Speaking up at work when colleagues take credit for your ideas. But suddenly you’re just being “too aggressive.”
Feeling persistent worry, trouble sleeping, irritability and that physical tension that won’t let up no matter what.

What You Can Expect in a Therapy Session With Me

My approach is collaborative, research-backed, and culturally grounded. As your therapist, I use proven methods like CBT and mindfulness to help you identify patterns, build new skills and work through difficult experiences—all adapted to fit your cultural context and lived reality.

You can expect a space where your experiences are validated without needing to explain everything. You’ll leave with practical tools you can use outside sessions and, importantly, strategies that honor your cultural background and identity.

My Areas of Focus

Intergenerational and cultural trauma
Religious trauma and spiritual transitions
Workplace stress and burnout
Anxiety, depression, and PTSD
Identity development and cultural belonging
Relationship dynamics and family expectations

Training & Professional Background

Education & Licensure

Master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Grand Canyon University
MBA, Grand Canyon University
Bachelor’s degrees in Criminology and Music, Barry University (Miami)
Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern, Florida (License #IMH28024), licensed since 2025

Clinical Experience

My path to becoming a therapist includes corporate experience where I witnessed the psychological toll of workplace racism and achievement pressure, plus graduate practicum work with diverse Florida communities. As a Bahamian-American woman navigating my own cultural expectations and generational patterns, I bring personal insight to the therapeutic process while maintaining evidence-based clinical approaches.

A Little About Me Personally

I’m a devoted wife and mother of two. Music and creative expression have been central to my own growth and continue to shape how I show up professionally. I find joy in family, travel, and the outdoors.

Practical Details

Ages Served: Adults, primarily 30s-50s

Session Format: Secure telehealth across Florida

Session Length: 50 minutes, individual therapy

Insurance Accepted: Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield (all variations), Cigna, Healthfirst-Cigna Allegiance

Self-Pay Rate: $100 per session (limited sliding scale available)

Getting Started

Whether you’re in Palm Bay, Melbourne, Orlando, Tampa, Miami, or anywhere across Florida, here’s how to begin:

Step 1: Initial Contact

Call or text (786) 496-2826, or use our contact form.

Step 2: Free 15-Minute Consultation

We’ll discuss what brings you to therapy and determine if we’re a good fit.

Step 3: Schedule Your First Session

We’ll schedule your first 50-minute telehealth session and send intake paperwork.

Step 4: Begin Therapy

We’ll build a therapeutic relationship and develop a plan tailored to your needs.

You can also find me here:

https://openpathcollective.org/clinicians/vernitta-mcqueen/

https://www.inclusivetherapists.com/florida/orlando/vernitta-mcqueen

https://liberatorywellnessnetwork.com/listing/vernitta-mcqueen-rmhci/

Vernitta McQueen provides services under clinical supervision by Lindsey Coates Horvatich, LMHC-QS (License #MH15982) as a Registered Mental Health Counselor Intern in accordance with Florida law.

Your healing—on your terms, in your culture, and with your spirit honored every step of the way.

Book an Appointment

160 Island Beach Blvd
Merritt Island, FL 32952

(321) 613-8685

Counseling offered via online
telehealth in Wisconsin & Florida.

Life Coaching offered via telehealth in all states