Local Counselor Motivated to Improve Children's Lives

(AIKEN, SC)- Even though it can be challenging at times hearing the awful experiences, local counselor, Amy Loftus, is still motivated to undo the emotional damage her clients have endured throughout their lives.

“I want to do my part in bringing happiness and a sense of relief to as many lives as possible,” states Loftus. 

Loftus has a private practice in which she counsels young children, adolescents, adults, and families. Some of her cases include children who’s parents are going through a divorce, who are experiencing symptoms of depression, who are experiencing issues with their sexuality, and who may be suffering from the effects of bullying by their peers. She may appear in court as an expert witness for cases dealing with custody battles typically associated with divorce. 

“I am most passionate about children and adolescents who constantly hear that they are worthless, stupid, never will amount to anything, etc. as well as ones who go through life with parents who never give them the attention, love and support that they deserve,” says Loftus with a soft smile across her face. “My passion is for all children and adolescents whom I come in contact with to feel that they are valuable.”

Along with her private practice, she works in the forensic area of counseling. She works with juvenile offenders who have been adjudicated of a crime who have been court-ordered to participate in counseling. She deals with juveniles who have committed a wide variety of offenses but her specialty is working with juvenile sex offenders. 

She is a Clinically Certified Sex Offender Treatment Specialist, for adults and juveniles but only choose to treat juveniles, through the National Association for Forensic Counselors. 

“Hearing the stories that I hear day after day can be very difficult, especially hearing the experiences that my offenders had in various times in their lives that contributed to their criminal actions, particularly my sex offenders,” states Loftus. 

One of the most challenging thing she deals with is working with juveniles who have already adopted the criminal mindset and distorted beliefs about reality. Once those beliefs have been developed and acted on, it is very difficult to transform. 

Another challenging issue is to make significant progress with a child or adolescent when parents refuse to take responsibility for contributing to their child’s mentality. 

“If parents refuse to acknowledge and alter what they are contributing to their child's pathology or criminality, it can be near impossible to assist juveniles in making positive life changes,” states Loftus. 

In order to be mentally and emotionally ready for the day, Loftus focuses on what she has control over and makes peace with what she doesn’t.