Gay men, identity trauma & self-esteem

Chris Tompkins AMFT specializes in working with adult gay men and the unique challenges they face related to self-esteem, identity formation, and shame. Chris views therapy as a collaborative relationship that works to identify goals and patterns of behavior. You’re the driver and he’s in the passenger seat supporting you along the way. Chris also specializes in working with Adult Children of Alcoholics and gay men whose lives have been affected by trauma and addiction.

For more than a decade, I’ve worked to transform my past pain and to heal from conscious and unconscious dysfunctional family patterns. What got me to where I am today is my own journey of healing and personal recovery.

I truly believe that we can only take others as far as we’ve gone ourselves and so having compassion for my own healing journey is how I’m able to offer it to my clients. I also believe that the biggest gift we can give to ourselves, to our relationships, to the planet, and to future generations is our self-actualization.

What I’ve come to learn from my own path is that connecting with our spirituality—or the direct experience of our own essence—loving ourselves, and taking full responsibility for our lives and choices is where our strength lies at the deepest level.

As an LGBTQ-affirmative and client-centered therapist, I look at each of my clients through an affirmative and humanistic lens. Meaning that I see the problem as the problem and not the person. My primary area of focus includes helping gay men heal past pain so that they wake up feeling a greater sense of purpose, self-acceptance, and belonging. I also specialize in working with people who specifically want spirituality to be a resource in their therapy.

I use a combination of both Western and Eastern philosophies in my therapeutic approach, including Mindfulness, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Narrative Therapy, Depth Psychology, Positive Psychology, Energy Psychology, and Humanistic Psychology.

Chris Tompkins is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist based in Los Angeles, California working under the clinical supervision of Andrew Merrell, LMFT. Chris specializes in LGBTQ affirmative psychology with a primary focus on adult gay men. He has a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology from Antioch University with a specialization in LGBTQ Affirmative Psychology.

Chris began his psychotherapy training at the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology where he received a Certificate in Narrative Focused Trauma Care Levels I and Level II from the Allender Center. Additionally, Chris completed his clinical training at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, where he developed his competency as an LGBTQ-affirming psychotherapist.

In addition to being a therapist, Chris is a writer and author of the best-selling book, Raising LGBTQ Allies: A Parent’s Guide to Changing the Messages from the Playground. While his book aims to prevent homophobia, transphobia, and bullying before they begin, Raising LGBTQ Allies is a peace offering for members of the LGBTQ community to help heal from the effects of trauma and toxic shame.

Prospective clients are invited to contact Chris directly at Chris@ARoadTripToLove.com or (323) 484-3985. Chris offers clients in person and virtual session options.