Stefani Goerlich

Stefani Elizabeth Goerlich (born 1979) is an American author, sexologist, researcher, and relationship counselor.^[1][2] 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.^[3]

Goerlich is the founder of Bound Together Counseling and an ABS board-certified Diplomate of Sexology.^[4] She specializes in gender, sexuality, and relationship diversity, with an emphasis on BDSM, kink, ethical non-monogamy, and kink-affirming therapy.^[5] She is licensed to see clients in Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, and Florida.^[6]

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^[7], and a post-graduate certificate in Sex Therapy from the University of Michigan's Sex Health Certificate Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.^[8]

• Coalition of Visionary Resources Award for Faith and Magick in the Armed Forces, 2009^[9]
• American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) Book Award, 2020^[10]
• Society for Sex Therapy and Research (SSTAR) Professional Book Award, 2022^[11]
• The Society for the Advancement of Sexual Health (SASH) Media Award, 2022^[12]
• American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists (AASECT) Sexuality Book Award (General Focus), 2024^[13][14]

• Stefani Barner. Faith and Magick in the Armed Forces: A Handbook for Pagans in the Military. Llewellyn, 2008.^[15]
• Stefani Goerlich. The Leather Couch: Clinical Practice with Kinky Clients. Routledge, 2020.^[16]
• Stefani Goerlich. Kink-Affirming Practice: Culturally Competent Therapy from the Leather Chair. Routledge, 2022.^[17]
• Stefani Goerlich. With Sprinkles on Top: Everything Vanilla People and Their Kinky Partners Need to Know to Communicate, Explore, and Connect. Sounds True, 2023.^[18]
• Stefani Goerlich and Elyssa Helfer. BDSM & Kink: The Basics. Routledge, 2024.^[19]

• 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.^[20]
• Goerlich, S. (2024). "A roomful of leopards: differentiating intimate partner violence from consensual kink". Couple and Family Psychoanalysis, Vol. 14, No. 1, 59–78.^[21]