Stefani Goerlich

Stefani Elizabeth Goerlich (born January 17, 1970) is an American author of Academic writing, Self-help book, and related books on sexual health. An internationally recognized expert on Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship Diversity- particularly BDSM/kink and ethical non-monogamy, Stefani describes herself as a bridge builder between the margins and the mainstream.
==Early Life==
Stefani was born in Joplin, Missouri and spent much of her childhood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A grandchild of migrant farm workers and religious leaders, Stefani was raised in a politically and religiously conservative home. She moved from Wisconsin to Michigan in her late teens and has lived and worked in the Detroit area ever since. 
===Marriage and Children===
Stefani married her first husband at age 20 and gave birth to her only child, a son, one year later. This marriage lasted for fifteen years, during which Stefani’s husband served multiple overseas deployments as a member of the Michigan Air National Guard. This experience led Stefani to write her first book, a handbook for minority faiths in the military. Stefani divorced in 2015 and married her current spouse in 2018.
===Philosophical and/or Political Views===
Stefani was active in the movement against the Iraq War and spoke at many anti-war events on behalf of Military Families Speak Out in the early 2000s. Stefani is an advocate for inclusion of Gender, Sexuality, and Relationship minorities and frequently speaks and writes on topics related to these communities. Stefani is a sex-positive, Feminist, pro-choice, religious progressive whose writing and clinical work reflects these views.
===Education===
* Bachelor of Human Service from Baker College
* Master of Social Work, Wayne State University (interpersonal practice specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy)
* Post-Graduate Certificate in Sex Therapy, University of Michigan
* PhD Student in Clinical Sexology, Modern Sex Therapy Institute
===Career===
Stefani spent the majority of her early career working in the nonprofit sector, primarily in social service agencies supporting the needs of women and girls. A trained crisis interventionist and mediator, Stefani applies a trauma-informed, sex-positive lens to her work with domestic violence and sexual assault survivors, victims of human trafficking, commercial sex workers, and members of the BDSM, kink, swinging and polyamory communities. Stefani is a member of the editorial board of the Journal of Counseling Sexology & Sexual Wellness: Research, Practice and Education. 
After nearly two decades of direct service including home-based intensive social work and crisis intervention, as well as nonprofit program administration experience, Stefani founded her own clinical practice (Bound Together Counseling) and consulting firm (Tzefira Consulting). 
Today, Stefani focuses on providing therapy to individuals and partners who identify as being members of gender, sexuality, and/or relationship minority groups, writing and speaking on the needs of these populations, serving as a clinical and media advisor for topics related to mental health, sexuality, relationship diversity and the needs of members of the BDSM, kink, polyamory and swinging communities, and providing intimacy, communications, and engagement consulting to nonprofit organizations, medical providers, and businesses around the country. 
Stefani is a frequent voice in media around the world and currently writes about sexuality and relationships for the PornHub Sexual Wellness Center, Psychology Today, and Nu? Detroit. She is represented by Bookends Literary Agency.
===Published Works===
* Faith and Magick in the Armed Forces: A Handbook for Pagans in the Military (Lewellyn, 2008) under the name Stefani Barner
* The Leather Couch: Clinical Practice with Kinky Clients (Routledge, 2020) 
* Kink-Affirming Practice: Culturally Competent Therapy from the Leather Chair (Routledge, 2022)
===Honors, Decorations, Awards, and Distinctions===
* 2021 AASECT Book of the Year for The Leather Couch
* 2009 Coalition of Visionary Resources Award for Faith and Magick in the Armed Forces
* AASECT Certified Sex Therapist
Category:1970 births
Category:American authors
Category:People from Joplin, Missouri
Category:Wayne State University alumni