Gwinnett Co. Therapist Arrested for Sexual Assault
Last Edited: Wednesday, 16 Jul 2008, 9:18 PM EDT
Created: Wednesday, 16 Jul 2008, 6:56 PM EDT

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. (MyFOX Atlanta) – A Gwinnett County therapist was behind bars Wednesday, accused of sexually assaulting a woman he was supposed to be counseling.

According to a Gwinnett County police report over the course of a year and a half, James Clifton Tillery, used a developing relationship with a patient as well as personal information she gave to seduce the victim.

"I feel disgusted, I feel betrayed," said the victim who asked to be called Sarah.

Sarah said she wanted to avoid the spotlight, but felt she had to come forward because she was a afraid she wasn't alone.

Her former therapist, Tillery, was arrested and charged with sexual assault for turning their therapist and client relationship into a sexual one.

"He used my vulnerabilities to get what he wanted from me," said Sarah.

Tillery was arrested by Gwinnett County police on Monday. Sarah said she first visited Tillery over two years ago for help with a series of personal problems. It was in Tillery's Norcross office that the questions became increasingly more intimate.

"And the hugs progressed to really long embraces, then he started massaging my back and going down my back and going down my hips and taking his hands and running them through my hair," Sarah said.

Sarah said she realized what was going on and turned Tillery in to the state professional licensing agency at the beginning of the year. Sarah went to the Gwinnett County Police Department and reported Tillery in May.

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