Healing and Empowerment through Tantra – Interview with Stacie Steinbock, MEd, ABS

Stacie Steinbock, MEd, ABS is a trusted leader in Tantra education, with over 20 years of experience in human sexuality and advanced certification from the only government-accredited Tantra program in the world. Her work blends modern sexual wellness with ancient, trauma-informed practices to support deep healing and personal transformation. After a 2021 diagnosis of ovarian cancer, Stacie turned to Tantra not just for recovery, but as a powerful somatic journey back to pleasure, power, and presence. She now shares these life-changing tools through The Golden Thread, offering coaching, workshops, and retreats for individuals and couples both online and in Louisville, KY. She invites others to explore Tantra as a pathway to healing and embodied joy.

Stacie Steinbock MEd, ABS, Tantra Coaching Specialist

Tell us a bit about your story, how did you build your career until this point?

My path into this work has been anything but linear, but every step has felt guided by something deeper – a quiet, persistent calling I couldn’t ignore.

In 2003, I was living in Mexico, working with an American study abroad program that brought college students across the border to learn in an experiential way. This was work I loved, but even then, I felt something stirring in me, a pull toward something more personal, more embodied. That calling became crystal clear during a weekend retreat, when I had one of those lightning-bolt moments of clarity: I was meant to work in the field of human sexuality education. That realization changed everything.

I soon applied to the Master’s program in Human Sexuality Education at Widener University, was accepted, and began a journey that would shape the rest of my life. Now, with two decades in the field of human sexuality education, my mission has remained the same: to replace shame and confusion with accurate, empowering, values-aligned information.

A career highlight came in 2017, when I was honored as a Healthcare Hero in the "Innovator" category by Louisville Business First for my work at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. There, I led a phenomenal group of medical school educators in the creation of the first fully LGBTQIA+ inclusive medical school curriculum in the U.S. – a model that’s now being used nationwide, and also contributed to seven peer-reviewed, scholarly articles as part of this momentous effort.

And while I’m proud of those accomplishments, what fuels me most is witnessing transformation

– when someone reclaims their body, their pleasure, or their voice. That’s the heart of this work for me.

Tell us about a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today.

In 2021, everything was upended. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer – a moment that stopped me in my tracks and began a profound personal and professional transformation. The medical treatments I underwent saved my life, and I’m deeply grateful for that. But they also left me facing a reality I never expected: my sexual functioning had drastically changed, and for the first time, I found myself on the other side of the work I’d spent my career teaching.

With two decades of experience as a sexuality educator, I had plenty of knowledge about anatomy, hormones, and desire – but what I needed most wasn’t intellectual. I needed a way to reconnect with my body, to feel safe inside it again. That realization led me into the world of somatic and holistic healing modalities, where I learned that trauma isn’t just something we think about – it’s something we hold. Somatic therapies helped me see how the body carries and expresses unresolved emotional experiences, and that awareness was both validating and life-changing.

It was during this journey that I found my way to Tantra. From the beginning, I recognized its immense potential – not only as a path of healing but as a gateway to liberation, embodiment, and pleasure. Through Tantric practices, I began to reclaim a sense of wholeness in my “new normal.” I felt empowered, connected, and alive in a way that no clinical textbook could have ever taught me.

That experience shifted everything. I knew I had to share this work. Today, as a Tantra Practitioner, I integrate 20 years of sexuality education with the deep wisdom of somatic and Tantric healing. What began as a personal necessity has grown into a life’s calling – helping others find their way back to themselves through the power of embodied transformation.

In your experience, what are some common misconceptions about Tantra?

Thank you for asking – this is one of my favorite questions to answer because there’s so much misinformation out there, and yet Tantra is such a rich, healing, and liberating path when understood in its fullness.

The first big misconception is that Tantra is only about sex. Don’t get me wrong – Tantra does embrace sexuality as sacred, but it's not just about sex, and certainly not about performance. At its heart, Tantra is a path of embodiment, awakening, and liberation. It teaches us how to live fully in our bodies, to regulate our nervous systems, to deepen our connection with ourselves and others, and to access bliss in everyday life – not just in the bedroom.

The second misconception is that Tantra is a religion. While Tantra has spiritual roots and sacred practices, it's not a religion that requires dogma or belief. It’s more accurate to say that Tantra is a living body of wisdom – one that integrates mind, body, and spirit. It can complement any faith or spiritual path – or none at all. In fact, the Tantra I teach is grounded in Tibetan 5 Element Tantra of the Shangpa Kagyu lineage practices and rooted in trauma-informed, somatic healing modalities.

The third misconception is that Tantra isn’t inclusive of women, queer, or trans people. That couldn’t be further from the truth – at least not in the way I practice and teach it. Tantra honors the divine in all bodies and all beings. The lineage I’m trained in centers consent, safety, and inclusivity, and I work with people across the spectrum of gender and sexual orientation. Everyone deserves access to healing, pleasure, and deep connection.

Tantra isn’t about fitting into a mold – it’s about breaking free from one.

Could you share some success stories from your clients?

Absolutely! What truly inspires me every day is the opportunity to witness the transformations my clients experience. Also, hearing stories from clients is crucial to my work because Tantra is not yet well understood in the West.

Rather than speaking for them, I think it’s most powerful to share a few reflections in their own words.

This is what an individual Tantra client had to say about work we did regarding vaginismus, sexual shame and trauma: 

"I have grappled with vaginismus, shame surrounding my sexuality and intimacy, and various sexual traumas for years. Since I began sessions with Stacie I have made progress working through each of these obstacles that I never thought possible. Her kind demeanor made me feel that I could immediately trust and open up to her, all while taking on a new approach to healing my mind and body.” 

I’d also love to share these insights from a transgender-identified Tantra Coaching Client: 

“I’ve known Stacie for over a decade and have benefitted profoundly from her guidance through Tantra Yoga.  Her integrity and compassion are unmatched. As a transgender woman, I carried years of trauma, shame, and disconnection from my body. Like many of us, I struggled with how to truly live in my body – let alone love it.  Through Stacie’s gentle and powerful instruction, I’ve begun to reclaim a relationship with my body that is sensual, sacred, and joyfully embodied. Tantra Yoga with Stacie has awakened in me a gracefulness, a deeper feminine presence, and a sexual sovereignty I never thought I could fully access. She’s helped me remember that my body is not something to fix or fear – it is something to celebrate. I highly recommend her coaching to anyone – especially trans women – who are ready to explore embodiment, pleasure, and the divine feminine with depth and dignity.” 

And last but not least, I would like to share the transformational journey of a beautiful couple I worked with recently:

“This couple’s Tantra coaching transformed how we understand connection and brought new depth to our relationship. We are a couple that has been married almost 25 years. Our relationship was good. We were not experiencing any specific issues. We just wanted to do something together that would be fun and a bit exciting.  As our sessions began, we both connected with Stacie easily and felt safe sharing about ourselves and our relationship. She combines deep expertise with a warm, genuinely caring presence.  She got to know us and helped us create our personal and relationship goals. We have learned techniques and practices that have more deeply connected us both spiritually and physically. We have enjoyed our sexy 'homework' activities, and we have generalized our connection practices outside of the bedroom to improve our communication with each other and others in our lives.  Our way of thinking around sex has completely changed and our relationship has grown in ways that have surprised us and surpassed our expectations.  It is like our past views on sex and intimacy were flat and limited, like seeing the world in black and white. Now our understanding has expanded into full color and three dimensions, reshaping how we connect and experience pleasure.” 

These kinds of shifts – whether they’re emotional, physical, or spiritual – are what this work is all about. Every journey is different, but what’s consistent is the sense of reconnection, healing, and empowerment that clients walk away with.

What is your business name and how do you help your clients?

My business is called The Golden Thread, and the name itself holds a lot of meaning for me. In the Vajrayana tradition, the word Tantra means “to weave,” which I find so beautiful – because that’s really what this work is about: weaving together healing, connection, and bliss throughout every part of life. Naming my practice The Golden Thread is both a tribute to these ancient teachings and a reflection of my own healing journey.

At its heart, The Golden Thread is about helping people reconnect with the healing power of pleasure – not just sexual pleasure, but the full-body, soul-level kind of pleasure that comes from living in alignment with your truth. I believe that each of us has our own “golden thread” – a unique path and purpose – and when we reconnect with our bodies and our desires, that path becomes so much clearer.

With over 20 years in sexuality education, I’ve seen how empowering it can be when someone feels safe and supported in their sexuality. It ripples into every area of life – boosting confidence, improving relationships, and often bringing a greater sense of vitality, creativity and joy.

Through Tantra and somatic healing practices, I help clients:

• Cultivate relaxed, embodied presence to ease stress and anxiety

• Release stored trauma from the body

• Heal the divide between sexuality and spirituality that exists for many of us

• Work through shame or disconnection around sex and the body

• Enhance pleasure, intimacy, and vitality

• Navigate challenges like erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, vaginismus, low libido, or anorgasmia (lack of orgasm)

  
  

At The Golden Thread, I offer a space for deep, compassionate transformation – where healing and pleasure aren’t separate, but part of the same sacred path back to wholeness.

What is your stance on working within collaborative relationships with other human service professionals, such as therapists?

Now that is an all-important question – thank you for asking it! Personally, I love collaborating with fellow human service professionals. Tantra is a powerful, body-based healing modality that beautifully complements the therapeutic, medical, and holistic work already being done by mental health providers, physicians, nurses, physical therapists, life coaches, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and more.

There are two key reasons this collaboration is so impactful. First, many providers – especially those in medical or clinical roles – simply don’t have the time, training, or sometimes comfort to deeply address sexuality-related concerns. That’s where I come in. As a Certified Tantra Practitioner with over 20 years of experience in sexuality education, I offer a trusted, professional resource they can refer to confidently.

Second, Tantra tends to stir up important insights, emotions, and memories stored in the body. When clients are already working with a therapist, these experiences can be brought into the therapy room for deeper integration. The synergy between somatic Tantra work and talk therapy can be truly transformative, which is why actually prefer to work with clients who already have a therapist.

And just to clarify – because people often wonder – my coaching practice does not involve physical touch with clients. I strictly follow the Code of Ethics of my training program, which you can view on my website. Creating a safe, professional, and respectful container for healing is central to everything I do.

Here’s how referring to a trusted Tantra coach can benefit your practice:

• Enhances client outcomes through body-based healing that complements your work

• Reduces burnout by sharing the care load, especially for issues outside your scope

• Strengthens your reputation as a holistic, client-centered provider

• Builds a mutually supportive referral network – I want to know what makes a good referral for you, too!

If you’re a human service professional who values collaboration, I invite you to join me for a free 1-hour online experiential workshop on July 30th, 2025. It’s a chance to learn what Tantra really is, how it supports your clients, and how we might work together. You can learn more and register here.

For readers inspired by this conversation and eager to start their journey, what first steps would you recommend?

I absolutely love hearing from people who feel inspired to explore Tantra – it means something inside you is waking up, and that’s a beautiful place to begin.

The very first step I recommend is visiting my website, where you can apply to work with me one-on-one. I offer private coaching sessions for individuals, couples, and polyamorous relationships, all rooted in trauma-informed, body-based Tantra practices.

Another great entry point is attending one of my workshops or retreats. Here are three upcoming opportunities:

• Taste of Tantra for Human Service Professionals (July 30th, 2025; online workshop)

• Taste of Tantra: Online Workshop (August 19th, 2025)

• Couple’s Tantra Retreat (February 6th – 8th, 2026; in-person).

These events are designed to be immersive, experiential, and deeply supportive – whether you’re brand new to Tantra or looking to deepen your path. You’ll find these upcoming opportunities on the Events page of my website.

It would be such an honor to connect with Brainz Magazine readers. If you have questions, want to invite me onto a podcast, or explore a creative business collaboration, I’d love to hear from you. Just reach out through the contact form on my website – I personally review each message and would be delighted to connect.

Tantra is a journey of coming home to yourself, and I’d be honored to walk alongside you as you take those first steps.

Follow me on LinkedIn, and visit my website for more info!

Read more from Stacie Steinbock, MEd, ABS