Ideation
Marriage equality has been the law of the land for one year, but same-sex couples have been doing life together for just as long as straight couples. Sharing findings from highly respected marriage researchers, knowledge from her work as a psychotherapist, and examples from her own same-sex marriage, Rachel Pinto, MS, LAC, will discuss how same-sex couples have found ways to thrive without the help of privilege or culturally informed gender roles. Rachel will work with attendees to create a space of safety as we discuss the painful (and redemptive) relationship between oppression and success – through the lens of the LGBT community, as well as other marginalized groups.
Rachel Pinto
Rachel Pinto is a psychotherapist and clinical director at Chenal Family Therapy in central Arkansas where she gets to hear breath-taking stories of pain, recovery, and regeneration on a daily basis. She is a trained trauma therapist (EMDR, mindfulness, meditation) who pulls wisdom from her own journey as a trauma survivor and recovering approval addict. She has worked as a psychotherapist for four years, and has mentored people in some capacity for twenty (as a high school teacher, a church minister, and a brief stint as the worst waitress in the history of the world). Rachel hosts the Ideation Podcast on iTunes, and she is a frequent contributor to local publications and radio broadcasts on the topics of sexuality, spirituality, and blended family dynamics. She holds a Master of Science degree from John Brown University (2012). Rachel lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas, with her wife, Robin, and their children.