ABOUT
stephanie van
“You have to do it for yourself;
no one can do it alone.”
— Thich Nhat Hanh
Steph’s Story
Growing up in Northeast Los Angeles in the 1980s and ’90s felt like trying to navigate without a roadmap. My migrant family and neighbors struggled to survive a system that didn’t make much sense to us nor afforded us much power. What I did have were disempowering messages about what it meant to be a woman, Asian American, and working class. I tried to conform to others’ expectations but, deep down inside, it never felt right.
I ended up with romantic partners and friends that weren’t good for me. Some were abusive. I had deeply internalized racism and sexism that were only amplified when I went to the mostly-white UC Santa Cruz to study psychology and education.
Things started to click for me when I found books, organizing communities, and counselors who could speak to my experience. I finally felt affirmed exactly as I was. I was exposed to more intentional ways of communicating and relating.
I began to see that I had choices about my existence.
I came to embrace my identities as a woman of color, trauma survivor, child of Chinese-Vietnamese refugees, and eventually someone queer and gender nonbinary. I started creating spaces with folks where we could authentically express ourselves, challenge social norms, and heal our wounds.
I found where I shine — collaborating with people to create change in our lives and communities.
During the 2008 No on Prop 8 Campaign in California, I began community organizing in order to build the power of youth and BIPOC whose voices were not being heard in the marriage-focused, LGBTQIA+ rights movement.
After working in research, education, and social services, I earned my Master of Social Welfare degree in 2010 from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Steph’s Experience
My experiences in social work and community organizing shape my work today.
Equal Action and LA Worm Farm Collective: Organizational development, community organizing, arts programming, and cooperative farming focused on LGBTQIA+ BIPOC and youth
Center for the Pacific Asian Family: Intimate partner and gender-based violence education, outreach, and crisis counseling focused on Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) immigrants and refugees
Hai Bà Trưng School for Organizing: Community organizing training and training for trainers for progressive Vietnamese Americans
Pacific Clinics: Culturally-responsive mental health curriculum development, training, and coalition building in workplaces and AAPI communities
Search to Involve Pilipino Americans: Community-based mental health programs for Filipino and Historic Filipinotown youth, high schools and middle schools, and affordable housing sites
Cal State LA Student Union Asian American Pacific Islander Student Center: Student programming as well as campus curriculum development and training
California State University, Los Angeles, School of Social Work: Lecturing on culturally-grounded practice, community organizing, social welfare policy, and social welfare history.
I am honored to walk alongside people on their journey to loving their whole selves.
Relevant Trainings
Internal Family Systems, Level 1, for Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous, People of Color Practitioners (ongoing)
Queer/Trans Internal Family Systems
Internal Family Systems Online Circle
Treating Complex Trauma with Internal Family Systems
Trauma Resiliency Model, Level 1
Autism Myths 101
UndocuAlly
Motivational Interviewing
Clinical Supervision
State of California Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Advocate
Sexual Assault Response Team
While not considered as professional training, engaging in silent meditation retreats and my mindfulness practice are foundational to my therapeutic approach.