Interview with voyage la about a road trip to love therapy
- Chris Tompkins
- Nov 6
- 4 min read
Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Tompkins.
Hi Chris, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?My story is really about my own journey of healing and self-discovery. I spent 25 years living as a closeted gay man, building walls, pretending I was okay, and blaming everything outside myself for my unhappiness. Over time, I realized that this struggle—feeling shame, internalized homophobia, and self-doubt—is something many gay men face growing up in a heteronormative world.
For nearly 15 years, I numbed that pain with drugs and alcohol. But over time, I committed to recovery and began the long, sometimes difficult, work of transforming old wounds and releasing the beliefs that once convinced me I wasn’t good enough, smart enough, or attractive enough.
Bartending for 11 years at a popular gay bar in West Hollywood gave me another kind of education. I became a “fly on the wall” to the stories, struggles, and resilience of thousands of LGBTQ people and allies. Listening to these experiences gave me a sense of purpose—helping others navigate their own challenges and find self-acceptance—and inspired me to want to become a therapist.
What brought me to where I am today is taking the pain of my past and turning it into something meaningful—for myself and for others. I’ve come to believe that connecting with our spirituality, loving ourselves, and taking full responsibility for our lives and choices is where our strength lies at the deepest level.
My journey has shown me that healing is possible, and helping others do the same is what gives me a deeply fulfilling sense of purpose.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? Not at all. Most of the struggles I’ve faced have been internal—self-doubt, imposter syndrome, questioning whether I was capable of achieving my goals and dreams.
Even after finishing my training and walking out of my licensure exam, I wasn’t sure I had passed. Becoming a therapist, while it’s something I’ve wanted to do for a very long time and have always felt called to, has been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done. But, like everything else that’s felt connected to my calling or purpose—whether giving a TEDx talk or writing a book—it’s been worth every challenge.
After five loooong years—two years of grad school, 3,000 hours of clinical training, and three years as an associate—I’m grateful to be on the other side of this journey.
Graduate school wasn’t easy for me — it sometimes felt like high school all over again, with cliques and cool kids and teacher’s favorites. On top of that, I wrestled with imposter syndrome and the frustrations of navigating a system that often takes advantage of pre-licensed therapists.
One of my professors once wrote on a reflection paper, “If it were clear, it would not be extraordinary.” It’s something I’ve held onto through my journey, and it’s something I offer you as you navigate anything that you might be experiencing that is particularly challenging — something you’ve been working hard at but don’t quite know how you’ll get through, or what it will look like on the other side.
As you know, we’re big fans of A Road Trip to Love Therapy. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Keeping true to what I believe and what life is about, my practice is called A Road Trip to Love Therapy. The name is meaningful because it reflects my own journey of healing and self-discovery—learning to love myself despite shame and doubt, and realizing I wanted to help others find that same sense of freedom and self-acceptance.
Life, much like a road trip, is a journey toward love—whether it’s love in a relationship, a calling, a Higher Power, or most importantly, with ourselves. And it’s a journey that always begins within.
I specialize in therapy for gay men—individuals and couples—helping them navigate challenges such as low self-esteem, addiction, religious trauma, internalized homophobia, and relationship struggles. A lot of my work is about helping gay men unlearn the messages they grew up with about who they were allowed to be and begin reconnecting with who they really are.
What sets my work apart is that I bring both lived experience and clinical expertise to the process. I approach therapy as a collaborative relationship where clients are in the driver’s seat, and I’m in the passenger seat supporting them along the way. My style is warm and humanistic. I see the problem as the problem, not the person.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that A Road Trip to Love reflects more than just a therapy practice—it’s a philosophy. It’s about creating space for people to come home to themselves, to heal from shame, and to live with more self-worth and genuine connection.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Wow, that’s a big question. A lot of things make me happy—nature, traveling, the beach, running by the ocean, and definitely Mexican food (specifically chips and salsa). Road trips always make me happy. Listening to SiriusXM Channel 55 (if you know, you know) while driving is almost like a meditation for me.
Spending time with family and friends and having authentic conversations makes me happy. So does visiting churches or spiritual places. Los Angeles has so many incredible spots, but one of my favorites is Lake Shrine and the Self-Realization Fellowship meditation center in the Pacific Palisades.
Being of service makes me happy. Hiking at Runyon Canyon, or really doing anything in nature, makes me happy. Mexico City makes me happy. And writing—especially when I know something I share might resonate with someone else—definitely makes me happy.
At their core, I think all of these things make me happy because they connect me to peace, joy, and the most authentic parts of myself, and help me feel connected to life.
Contact Info:
Image Credits: OnTay Johnson
Interview featured on: VoyageLA
Chris Tompkins is a gay male therapist in West Hollywood (Los Angeles) who specializes in working with adult gay men, individuals and couples. He supports clients navigating identity, relationships, religious trauma, addiction, and self-esteem. To learn more, explore therapeutic services or schedule a free consultation.
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