An Inspired Chat with Mx. Van Ethan Levy of Virtual

Mx. Van Ethan Levy shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Van Ethan , thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business? 
One of the most misunderstood things about my work is that it’s “just therapy,” or “just education,” or “just advocacy.” or “Only relevant to LGBQTPIA2S+ folx”. In reality, everything I do is rooted in survival, resistance, and a deep desire to dismantle systemic oppression in clinical spaces and beyond. I’m not offering services—I’m creating access, community, and healing in spaces where it’s been denied for too long.

People often assume my work is niche or only relevant to a specific community. But what I’m building—through trainings, identity-affirming tools, gatekeeping disruption, and community-centered education—is universally human. Everyone benefits when systems are inclusive, when care is trauma-informed, and when identities are not pathologized but affirmed.

Another common misconception is that the resources I provide—like the Exploring My Identity(ies) workbook, the No More GateKeeping app, or the Do Something: Identity(ies) Conference—are optional add-ons rather than essential tools. In truth, they are lifelines for those navigating systems not built for them.

Lastly, there’s often a misunderstanding about the emotional labor behind this work. As a queer, non binary, trans, AuDHD (Autistic and ADHD), disabled person of color, I’m not doing this work as a professional removed from the impact. I’m living it. This isn’t just a business—it’s my survival, and the survival of others like me. My work is about making sure we don’t just survive, but thrive—with autonomy, dignity, and care.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Van Ethan Levy (they | elle), a queer, non binary, trans, AuDHD (autistic & ADHD), disabled person of color working to challenge systems that harm and exclude marginalized identities—especially in mental health and healthcare. I’m a dually licensed psychotherapist (LMFT & LPCC), educator, advocate, and creator of resources that are rooted in lived experience, survival, and the urgent need for systemic change.

I’ve developed platforms and tools that center identity-affirming, trauma-informed, and anti-oppressive care—resources that are used by individuals, clinicians, and institutions across the U.S. and beyond.

My workbook, Exploring My Identity(ies), received an International Impact Book Award, and my documentary, Do Something: Trans & Non Binary Identity(ies), has won over 14 national and international awards. These projects aren’t just media—they are deeply personal acts of resistance, awareness, and education.

I also founded No More GateKeeping Provider List, a national directory of affirming providers trained to offer assessments and write access letters (for surgeries, hormones, legal changes, etc.) in just one session. The directory includes vetted clinicians in every single U.S. state, most of whom I personally trained.

I also developed the No More GateKeeping app, a trauma-informed digital tool designed specifically for mental health and medical professionals. The app guides clinicians through sensitive, affirming questions to ask clients, then automatically generates a ready-to-sign letter that helps clients access life-saving affirming care—like hormones, surgeries, and/or medical care—with less delay and less emotional labor for both parties. This innovation streamlines the assessment and letter-writing process while centering client safety and dignity.

In 2022 and 2024, I launched and directed the first-of-its-kind international virtual conference centering trans and non binary identities, where every presenter was non cis and paid for their labor. The event brings together community wisdom, professional development, and direct action to reduce harm and increase access.

At the core of all my work is this belief: our lives are worth affirming—not just in theory, but in action. My work is about creating liberatory pathways for those most impacted by systemic violence. And I’m just getting started.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world forced changes on me with its rules and judgments, I was loud—my laughter could resurrect a fading soul. I was goofy, playful, and free. I loved climbing trees, running wild, making noise, and moving in ways that felt good to my body. I trusted easily, believed in goodness, and cared deeply for everyone around me.

But from the very start, my body and spirit were met with resistance. As a baby, I hated the way clothes felt against my skin, the sounds I was allowed to make, even what I was forced to eat. I would rip my hair out to get bows out from my hair and cry out to be free of what hurt me. The world didn’t understand—and still doesn’t fully understand—what it means to live with a body that demands gentleness, that feels pain so deeply it needs protection.

I endured abuse—sexual, physical, psychological—starting as early as 18 months old and continuing through much of my life. The people who should have protected me instead gaslit me, making me doubt my own experience. I was taught that I didn’t know what was best for me, that I was mentally ill, that my truth was wrong. These lessons pushed me to hide parts of myself, to shrink away from the joy and freedom I once knew.

Even now, I often have to disconnect from my body to survive the pain. I restrict my movement because how I move is judged—often misunderstood—and it has blocked me from opportunities and connection. But despite it all, my kindness, compassion, empathy, and desire to support others remain. These parts of me are fierce and unbreakable.

My community—my Joyfriend, my chosen Mom, close friends, and therapist—hold space for me to be fully myself. They listen without judgment, meet my questions with curiosity, and give me permission to reclaim my authentic self.

To those who hold power in this world—clinicians, policymakers, allies—I want to share this: Trust the person who trusts you enough to share their story. Do not question or doubt their truth. Our lives and identities are valid, complex, and worthy of care.

And to those who, like me, have been told they don’t know themselves: You know yourself better than anyone else ever will. Trust your truth, even when others—and even you—try to tell you otherwise.

This is not just survival—it is the beginning of reclaiming freedom and joy, no matter how many walls have been built around us.

When did you last change your mind about something important?
The last time I changed my mind about something truly important was when my Joyfriend helped me understand that I was wasting too much energy, time, and capacity trying to educate individuals who weren’t open or willing to learn. It was a hard realization, but it shifted my focus profoundly. Instead of trying to change people one by one, I redirected my efforts toward building new systems—ones that center the needs and realities of marginalized communities from the start. That shift gave me more power and hope to create real, lasting change, rather than getting stuck in endless cycles of frustration.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, as much as it can be. I have to mask many parts of who I am to survive in a world that often isn’t safe or welcoming. Because of that, it can be hard even for me to know which parts of myself are fully free and which are still covered for safety. But what I share publicly is still real—it’s a version of me shaped by resilience, boundaries, and the ongoing work of protecting my wellbeing.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
I believe what my customers would miss the most is my responsiveness. I’m quick to reply and make sure to follow up consistently. Being available and reliable is something I prioritize because I know how important it is for people to feel understood and supported in real time.

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Image Credits
@CapturedByJenise on instagram

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