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Woman in a light pink blazer smiling.

Valyn Bodensteiner, Intern – Supervised by Madi Sweet
(She/Her/Hers)

Modalities: Brainspotting (Phase I), Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders

Perinatal: Advanced Training

After a decade of working in marketing and design, I transitioned to a counseling career to help others navigate pregnancy, birth, and parenthood! I hold a Master of Arts in Strategic Communication from the University of Iowa and am currently a graduate student in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program at Grand View University. My own postpartum challenges of a surprise NICU stay, limited social support, pumping, and changes to my identity completely shifted my worldview and inspired me to help other women going through their own journeys of motherhood.

I’ve been trained in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders through Postpartum Support International (PSI) and am currently completing the Prenatal & Perinatal Educator (PPNE) Certificate Program through the Association for Prenatal & Perinatal Psychology & Health (APPPAH). I am trained in Brainspotting Phase I and hope to gain additional training in trauma-focused care.

NPI: 1689214017

book with Valyn

What My Support Looks Like

The transition into parenthood can be one of the most meaningful and overwhelming times in life. You don’t have to navigate this season alone. As a future licensed mental health counselor (LMHC), I hope to create a space where women feel seen and heard. My support is holistic and honors the connection between mind, body, and spirit. I take a humanistic, person-centered approach to therapy, helping you address unresolved emotions that are impacting your life. My background in user experience focused on understanding people’s stories, building connections, and translating complex needs into meaningful solutions. I like to use humor, empathy, and honesty to help clients become more aware of their thoughts and actions. I’m a lifelong learner and am interested in learning more about attachment, somatic, and mindfulness-based approaches to therapy.

In My Free Time You Can Find Me…

When I’m not working, you can find me spending time with my husband and toddler on our acreage or visiting national parks together. Other fun facts about me: I love cats and consider myself a fantasy/sci-fi nerd. I also love to read, practice SomaYoga, play board games and video games, keep bees, and plant flowers.

Book With Valyn

To schedule an appointment with Valyn, please email her by clicking the button below.

Book with Valyn

You Don’t Have To Do This Alone

What do Bloom's perinatal mental health designations mean?

Perinatal mental health is one of Bloom’s core specialties, so we’re intentional about how we describe each provider’s training in this area. You’ll see one of three designations on every counselor’s profile: Certified, Advanced Training, or Growing Interest. Here’s what each one means.

What does "Certified" mean?
Certified indicates a provider is Certified in Perinatal Mental Health (PMH-C) — the formal, board-recognized specialty certification in perinatal mental health. Earning the PMH-C requires advanced education, supervised clinical training, and meeting professional standards set specifically for supporting individuals and families through the perinatal period.
What does "Advanced Training" mean?
Advanced Training means the provider has completed Bloom’s foundational two-day perinatal mental health training plus additional, advanced perinatal-specific coursework. These providers have pursued real, substantial education in the assessment and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, even though they haven’t yet completed the PMH-C certification process.
What does "Growing Interest" mean?
Growing Interest means the provider has a genuine clinical interest in supporting individuals through pregnancy, postpartum, and the transition to parenthood, but hasn’t yet completed Bloom’s training threshold for our Advanced Training designation. It’s an honest starting point, not a lesser one — many of our most experienced perinatal providers began here.
What does "Growing Interest" mean?
Growing Interest means the provider has a genuine clinical interest in supporting individuals through pregnancy, postpartum, and the transition to parenthood, but hasn’t yet completed Bloom’s training threshold for our Advanced Training designation. It’s an honest starting point, not a lesser one — many of our most experienced perinatal providers began here.
Why does Bloom make this distinction?
We believe you deserve to understand the training and experience behind the provider you’re choosing. Rather than using a vague catch-all term, we want our language to be transparent and specific — so you can find a provider whose background genuinely matches what you’re looking for.
Why does Bloom make this distinction?
We believe you deserve to understand the training and experience behind the provider you’re choosing. Rather than using a vague catch-all term, we want our language to be transparent and specific — so you can find a provider whose background genuinely matches what you’re looking for.
What if I'd like to work with a provider at a different level of perinatal training?

That’s completely okay! You can browse our full team on the Meet Our Counselors page, where every provider’s designation is listed alongside their focus areas, so you can find the best match for your needs — whether that’s deep perinatal specialization or simply the right overall fit for you.