CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – In 1978 the Sexual Assault Center (SAC) opened its doors in Middle Tennessee and now an office has opened in Clarksville. The center is dedicated to providing counseling to children and adults who are victims of sexual assault.
Valerie Guzman is the Client Services and Outreach Coordinator for the Clarksville office. Guzman says she helps clients with their first orientation visit as well as explaining the policies and procedures of the Sexual Assault Center.
“It has to be a crime of sex for them to qualify to come here. Our primary focus is crimes against women, children or men that are sex related,” said Guzman. There’s individual and group counseling with therapists for children ages 3-12, 13-18 and any age after that for both women and men.
Guzman talked about the counseling offered at the center. “They have to see that we’re not here just to get the information, we’re her to get you better. Not that there’s anything wrong with them but they’ve got to figure out how to process what happened and know it’s not their fault,” Guzman said.
You’ll find the Sexual Assault Center in Clarksville at 1725, Suite I on Wilma Rudolph Boulevard, behind Jimmy John’s restaurant. Guzman said the best way to learn more about the center is to go to their website at www.sacenter.org or you can also call 931-241-4144.