A leading expert in trauma-focused mental health services for adolescents through elders, Salomé Valencia-Bohné has demonstrated a commitment to advancing the field through both clinical practice and community engagement. In 2025, she founded her own practice, Eastside Rivers Wellness PLLC, where she has since served as the clinical director. In this capacity, Ms. Valencia-Bohné provides individual and emergency therapy sessions, supports clients between appointments with online resources and check-ins, and manages outreach and marketing efforts. Her responsibilities also include recruiting and training interns, organizing community leadership groups, overseeing clinic operations and developing the practice’s infrastructure.
Concurrently with her duties at Eastside Rivers Wellness PLLC, Ms. Valencia-Bohné has contributed as a clinician at Peaceful Soul Healing since 2019. She has distinguished herself by working directly with clients on their unique challenges, identifying strengths, and building realistic paths forward — an approach centered on asking patients what they need, moving at their pace and prioritizing patience as they prepare for each next step.
Ms. Valencia-Bohné’s professional journey has been shaped by her lived experiences within communities facing systemic hardship. Growing up in Yakima, Washington, with limited access to opportunities, she was inspired by media representations of helpful professions — particularly the television show “Frasier,” which illustrated the transformative power of meaningful conversations. This early influence fueled Ms. Valencia-Bohné’s determination to pursue a career in therapy despite socioeconomic barriers. Recognizing the prevalence of trauma across diverse populations, she was motivated to address root causes rather than symptoms, with work spanning both affluent areas and communities with significant socioeconomic challenges.
Before founding her own practice, Ms. Valencia-Bohné was a clinical supervisor at RI International for 15 years. In this position, she provided guidance to clinicians navigating complex cases while ensuring high standards of care for vulnerable populations.
A pivotal moment in Ms. Valencia-Bohné’s career occurred in 2014 when she served as a mental health clinician at a youth homelessness shelter. Marking what she considers among her most significant achievements, she provided critical support to young people experiencing homelessness. Many of the individuals Ms. Valencia-Bohné helped in this role have maintained contact with her over the years, sharing their successes in higher education and personal lives. The enduring relationships formed during this period underscore her impact.
Ms. Valencia-Bohné’s performance in the field was born of her academic journey, beginning with a bachelor’s degree in psychology with minors in sociology and women’s studies from Pacific Lutheran University. She obtained a Master of Arts in international care community development from Northwestern University. Subsequently, Ms. Valencia-Bohné earned a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Washington. Born into a working-class home where she was the first family member to graduate from college, she now serves on the board of the College Success Foundation, a nonprofit that supports educational access for underserved and low-income students.
To remain aware of developments affecting her field, Ms. Valencia-Bohné has been affiliated with a number of pertinent organizations. She was a past president of the Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work and is currently an active member of the Washington Mental Health Counselors Association, contributing to advancing standards within the mental health profession.
Ms. Valencia-Bohné’s contributions have been recognized with numerous honors. Most notably, she received the Leadership Award from the Washington State Society for Clinical Social Work in 2024. Ms. Valencia-Bohné attributes her success to viewing challenges as opportunities for growth, emphasizing the importance of community support and collective effort in her professional accomplishments. Her resilience, belief in herself and strong network of support have enabled her to overcome obstacles while building a respected professional standing.
Beyond her career, Ms. Valencia-Bohné is a dedicated wife and a loving mother to her daughter. Her favorite pastime is visiting museums and parks, especially with her daughter. Among her many achievements, Ms. Valencia-Bohné considers finding balance between personal fulfillment and professional accomplishment as her greatest success. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated persistence and creative problem-solving in balancing full-time work with her duties as a parent and managing the demands of running a business.
In the future, Ms. Valencia-Bohné plans to grow her practice at a sustainable pace to help maintain that balance and avoid replicating unhealthy workplace dynamics that she observed earlier in her career. She is committed to expanding access to mental health services, especially for individuals facing social or financial hardship. Ms. Valencia-Bohné hopes to collaborate with other leaders to identify resources that can be leveraged for ongoing community benefit. Her vision for the years ahead exemplifies leadership grounded in empathy, innovation rooted in lived experience, and an unwavering commitment to building healthier communities through trauma-informed care and collaborative action.