Dr. Dani Rosenkrantz is Passionate About Building Brave Spaces in Florida

Dr. Dani Rosenkrantz is passionate about building Brave Spaces in Florida. Dr. Dani is a licensed psychologist rooted in Florida who specializes in working with the Jewish and queer communities. With the recent legislations in Florida, Dr Dani Rosenkrantz has been advocating for the rights and care for transgender individuals.

OFM had the chance to connect with Dr Dani to learn a little bit more about who they are.

Who is Dr Dani?

Dr. Dani Rosenkrantz (she/they) is a Jewish+, queer licensed psychologist and owner of Brave Space Psychology, a virtual private practice rooted in Florida offering therapy in 36-plus states (including CO!) and coaching worldwide.

Dr. Dani loves helping Jewish LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC folx heal and connect to joy, identity affirmation, and empowerment despite ongoing oppression and political stress. Dr. Dani is passionate about building Brave Spaces that empower families and communities with tools for affirmation. Dr. Dani offers parent/grandparent affirmation coaching and speaks and educates nationally to reduce the impacts of minority stress and build communicates where all can feel seen and thrive. Dr. Dani also provides gender-affirming letter assessments to help trans youth and adults in Florida affirm themselves.

What does being a therapist mean to you?

To me, being a therapist is about holding space for the bravery required to face our vulnerabilities and resourcing together to build compassion, trust, resilience, and agency. I founded Brave Space Psychology to provide a space for marginalized folx to be seen, learn to trust themselves, build community, and reclaim wellness and joy. Centering healing from oppression-based individual and collective trauma and minority stress, I hold space for Jewish and queer folx and intersectional folx who don’t always have a space where we can be our full selves. Together, we grieve the multitudes of losses we have experienced: loss of self-trust, of acceptance, of safety, of love, of community.

What type of work do you do for the community?

In addition to my individual therapy and coaching work, I love providing education to my community and have spent much of this last year building and providing educational trainings and groups focused on building LGBTQ+ affirming communities, Jewish LGBTQ+ mental health, resources for grandparents of trans and nonbinary grandchildren and parents of LGBTQ+ children in Florida, and navigating politically hostile environments as LGBTQ+ communities.

You are queer and living in Florida. Do you find that challenging?

Being in Florida, or any state navigating a hostile political landscape, is definitely challenging personally and professionally. It’s a lot of exposure to toxic messages about our value in our community. I think we have to create space to process the minority stress impacts of it, grieve our safety, and make decisions that work for each of us as individuals and families. Not everyone has the ability to stay and fight, and not everyone has the ability to leave. I find it meaningful to be part of the coalition that is staying and getting organized. That is the good part in all this—We are building community and that is powerful. It makes me excited for the future for Florida. But it will take time to get there.

As a therapist in Florida do you work with a lot of the community that is facing hate and having to deal with barriers when it comes to gender affirming care?

I work with a lot of trans and nonbinary folx who are experiencing barriers to care due to the recent anti-trans legislation. In addition to individual therapy, I also provide gender affirming letter assessments for minors and adults to help with access in spite of these harmful policies and facilitate support groups to their families (parents, grandparents) to help them become better resourced advocates. It’s been a really hard year for Florida families, and we’ve had a lot of community members move for access. It’s a big loss for all of us.

How do you navigate working with the queer community in Florida while also facing those challenges yourself? Do you find it easier, as you can relate to it?

Working within my own community intersection is both very meaningful and also emotional work. I have learned to cultivate a strong support system and resources, but I’m still human and working on navigating myself. I don’t pretend I have all the answers to how to handle all this craziness, but we can get through it together is how I frame it. But yes, I definitely relate to it and feel protective of my community.

In what ways do you advocate for those a part of the transgender community?

I make attending legislative meetings a priority when I can to speak out against harmful policies that I see the impact of as a provider. I went to the medical board meeting in Tampa last summer, and I recently went to Tallahassee with Equality Florida and Keshet. It was so energizing to be in community at the capital of Florida and use my experience to provide policy education to legislators. I am brainstorming how I can make consulting on policy with legislators a part of my work more regularly. You can see videos on my Instagram of my comments if you’re interested @bravespacepsych.

Why is it important to you to fight for transgender lives and gender-affirming care?

I fight because gender-affirming care is healthcare, and denying access to lifesaving healthcare is harming the most vulnerable in our community. I fight because I have seen the beauty of trans joy and the face of youth who know and trust themselves, and I get to be an adult who helps them become their authentic selves and witness the healing that happens. I do it for them, I do it for us.

If someone wanted to advocate for the trans/ queer community but doesn’t know where to start, what is a good way for them to start?

Get in community! Find the equality orgs in your state doing organizing work in your local community or state. Going to equality Florida’s training at Pride at the capital was so helpful in how to do advocacy! Use your unique skill and community connections. There’s not one way or one path. If you need a coach to help you get organized, I’m happy to help.

On your website, you mention that you are jewish and work with the jewish community. Can you tell me more about what that means to you?

I focus on the Jewish community because, as a queer Jewish person, I have found that there’s something really powerful about being in spaces where both my identities are held, shared, and celebrated. I didn’t see many spaces like that around me, so I made one. My work focuses in part on healing from minority stress as Jewish folx and learning to address antisemitism in ways that foster connection and healing across marginalized communities, so intersectional folx like me can feel seen and supported in all spaces.

I’ve had so much fun this year partnering with Jewish LGBTQ+ organizations like Keshet, JQInternational, Sojourn, Eshel, and JQY, as well as Jewish organizations like the Union for Reform Judaism, Jewish Federation’s BeWell initiative, Jewish Federation of Miami, Camp Coleman, and local synagogues to create programs focused on our community celebrating Jewish LGBTQ+ and BIPOC mental health. I also love to connect to local community through Jewish rituals like queer Shabbat, challah baking, lighting candles, singing as a collective. One of my favorite artists and friends that has been healing to me this past year is Elana Arian. She’s a queer Jewish musician, and her work is so healing.

How does one find a gender affirming therapist like yourself?

I am really excited that I can now offer my therapy services in 39 states through PSYPACT. So if I sound like your kind of provider, head to my website to book a free consultation! I also know there are lots of great colleagues out there doing this work and am happy to make referrals. This is also a great reason to get in community to share resources.

Is there anything else you would like to share as we wrap up?

If you are a member of the Jewish, LGBTQ+, BIPOC communities, and especially if you are someone holding intersecting identities, just know you are loved, and this queer Jewish psychologist celebrates you!

I am grateful for the opportunity to share about my work! Thank you!

Cover photo by Dr Dani Rosenkrantz