Sharonda W. Engram
Sharonda W. Engram is the founder / owner of Living Water. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in the field of psychology from Florida A & M University. She has her master’s degree in Marriage, Family, and Couples Counseling from Stetson University. She’s licensed with the state of Florida as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, MT4250. Formal education and experience has equipped her to counsel individuals, families, and couples.
She has a great deal of experience working with relationships since 2008, and mental health issues since 1999. She was ordained as a deacon at her former ministry in 2004. In 2009, she was ordained as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She is also a first time author of a children’s book titled Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. You are welcome to learn more about this book at www.psalms13914.com.
She enjoys being a wife of 20 years, to her high school sweetheart. They have four awesome boys. She enjoys reading, dancing, traveling, and spending time with her family.
My Heart for Counseling
When I thought about counseling, I automatically thought of someone giving advice to another person regarding a situation. At least that is what I had done in times past towards my friends. What a vain perspective to have regarding a powerful, yet compassionate and loving ministry. Over the years, I truly experienced and learned from the best in what it means to serve others in the ministry of counseling according to the heartbeat of Jesus. One day I had a check -up and realized that my therapy skills were performance driven, which showed my lack of being relational towards my clients. To sit in the reality of having a false connection with clients and accepting the honest truth about my emotional state, during that period of my life, was heartbreaking, but a birthing of a pivotal change in my life. I made the decision to be real. I no longer wanted to be the person giving advice out of my intelligence. I chose to take my pain, fears, shame, and perfectionist attitude to God; to allow Him to work in me, in the depth of my sorrow, so I could authentically connect with others- not to just counsel, but for relationship. I have a hunger in me to walk this journey and to help others in my process, know they are not alone. I will not walk ahead of you, but along your side. Today I choose to be guided by the Holy Spirit, coupled with my educational training and experience to counsel from a pure heart that offers light in the valley of darkness. I believe we cannot walk in pure healing from issues of the heart and mind until we show forth the sacrifices of God, which is a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart.
