Stefani Goerlich

Stefani Elizabeth Goerlich (born 1979) is an American author, sexologist, researcher, and relationship counselor. She is an author of books based on academic self-help, sexual, and relational health themes. She is a licensed clinical social worker with advanced specialization in forensic social work and an AASECT certified sex therapist.

Goerlich is the founder of Bound Together Counseling and an ABS board-certified Diplomate of Sexology. She specializes in gender, sexuality, and relationship diversity, with an emphasis on BDSM, kink, ethical non-monogamy, and kink-affirming therapy. She is licensed to see clients in Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, and Florida.

Education

Goerlich obtained a bachelor’s degree in Human Service from Baker College in 2012, a master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy from Wayne State University in 2015, and a post-graduate certificate in Sex Therapy from the University of Michigan’s Sex Health Certificate Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Awards

Coalition of Visionary Resources Award for Faith and Magick in the Armed Forces, 2009

American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) Book Award, 2020

Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR) Professional Book Award, 2022

The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH) Media Award, 2022

American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) Sexuality Book Award (General Focus), 2024

Publications

Books

Stefani Barner. Faith and Magick in the Armed Forces: A Handbook for Pagans in the Military. Llewellyn, 2008.

Stefani Goerlich. The Leather Couch: Clinical Practice with Kinky Clients. Routledge, 2020.

Stefani Goerlich. Kink-Affirming Practice: Culturally Competent Therapy from the Leather Chair. Routledge, 2022.

Stefani Goerlich. With Sprinkles on Top: Everything Vanilla People and Their Kinky Partners Need to Know to Communicate, Explore, and Connect. Sounds True, 2023.

Stefani Goerlich and Elyssa Helfer. BDSM & Kink: The Basics. Routledge, 2024.

Articles

Goerlich, S. (2023). “Cradle and all: outcome differences between kink-affirming and kink-uninformed therapies for a complex client with paraphilia”. Sexual and Relationship Therapy, 1-24.

Goerlich, S. (2024). “A roomful of leopards: differentiating intimate partner violence from consensual kink”. Couple and Family Psychoanalysis, Vol. 14, No. 1, 59-78.

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