Six Questions:

Six questions for Lu Torres

Lu Torres is hoping for community support in the form of donations for the Rape Crisis Center.

Thursday, July 16, 2009 | 2 a.m.

The ribbon-cutting for the Rape Crisis Center’s Signs of Hope Counseling Services office was July 1. The appointment calendar began filling up the next day.

At the McLeod Drive center, counseling services are available for sexual assault victims, and fees are paid on a sliding scale. The center offers a unique service: a counselor who is certified in American Sign Language to work with victims who are deaf or hearing-impaired.

The demand for the center’s services is growing, the nonprofit agency’s executive director, Lu Torres, said. What is still missing, however, is all the money Torres had hoped to raise — the center is short thousands of dollars in donations, which means the future of Signs of Hope is uncertain.

The organization is helping people now and hopes to raise enough money to ensure Signs of Hope will last for the long term. While donors are being courted, one-on-one private counseling sessions are under way.

For now, Torres is opening the center’s doors with one hand, and crossing her fingers with the other.

How much money does Signs of Hope still need to raise?

We need to raise at least $35,000 in the next six months, and that’s a scary thing in these economic times. But the victims need it. We have a waiting list and healing can’t wait.

What role does counseling play in a sexual assault victim’s recovery?

Counseling gives people coping skills to deal with the trauma of rape. The sooner they heal, the sooner they stop blaming themselves, missing work, missing school, being scared — the sooner they become part of our community again.

What kind of demand is there for this type of counseling in Clark County?

We meet with about 70 clients in the hospital every month. If just half start therapy right away, that’s at least 35 hours that are needed for counseling services. Some victims don’t want to deal with it right away, but eventually they come back to us for counseling. The things you go through after an assault are difficult to understand — a flashback, an odor, a sight, something triggers that memory and they need help.

Do low-income victims constitute a large portion of your clients?

Yes, more affluent people have access to private therapists and counselors. Our fees depend on the client. We are not turning anyone away.

Can a sexual assault victim ever be totally healed?

Once you’ve been raped, you’ve been raped. I think you can heal, you can still be a productive member of society, but that rape will be with you for the rest of your life.

How do you envision Signs of Hope developing?

The goal is to become a full-time counseling center in three years, with support groups and therapeutic groups. The Las Vegas community has a good heart, and I know if we get out and talk to the community, and show it the positive outcomes possible with this program, it’ll support us. It’s really just beginning.