Dr. Mallaree Blake

I felt called to become a therapist early in life. Growing up in a family shaped by mental health and addiction challenges, I witnessed both profound suffering and remarkable resilience. Those experiences sparked my desire to understand healing, relationships, and the ways people grow through adversity. I have always been drawn to deep connection and knew I wanted my work to feel meaningful and rooted in relationship.

During my undergraduate training at the University of Dayton, I became captivated by sociology and psychology — particularly how individuals and larger systems influence one another. It was there that my commitment to social justice took root, a guiding value that continues to shape my work. I went on to earn my Master’s degree at Boston College and my Doctorate at the Adler School of Professional Psychology, programs that deeply integrated diversity, cultural humility, and systemic awareness into their clinical training.

Across my training and professional experience, I have worked in community mental health centers, university counseling centers, hospitals, schools, and now private practice. I am currently a co-owner of Authentic Connections Therapy and Wellness, where I work with individuals and couples navigating complex relational and identity-based challenges. I also teach in the Graduate School of Professional Psychology at the University of Denver and provide clinical supervision to doctoral trainees within our practice. Teaching and supervising continually sharpen my clinical lens and keep me engaged in ongoing learning.

In my practice, I commonly work with:

· Individuals navigating dating, divorce, and repetitive relationship patterns

· Individuals and couples navigating sexual concerns such as low desire, desire discrepancies, Kink/BDSM exploration, non-monogamy, painful sex, trauma, sexual shame, or changes in sexual functioning

· Clients adjusting to pregnancy, postpartum transitions, fertility challenges, body image shifts, and the impact of parenthood on partnership and sexuality

My approach is relational, culturally responsive, and collaborative. I believe therapy works best when we honor both your humanity and mine — I am a person first and therapist second. I aim to show up with authenticity, warmth, and appropriate vulnerability to foster a strong and safe therapeutic connection.

Much of my work focuses on understanding how your early relationships, formative experiences, and intersecting identities shape the ways you move through the world today. Together, we create a map of your relational patterns and internal narratives so we can move toward intentional, meaningful change. I value emotional honesty, depth, creativity, and even humor in the room. Therapy with me is thoughtful, engaged, and grounded in the belief that healing happens through connection.

If you are seeking a space to better understand yourself, strengthen your relationships, and move toward a more integrated and connected life, I would be honored to walk alongside you.