Mike Mariska

Michael Mariska

Associate Professor
Director, Counselor Education and School Psychology
Phone: (603) 535-3288
Office: Health & Human Enrichment, Samuel Read Hall, MSC 58, Plymouth, NH 03264

Mike Mariska is the director of the Counselor Education and School Psychology graduate programs, and the graduate studies coordinator for the Human Services Academic Unit. He is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in the state of New Hampshire, and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). He has been a faculty member at Plymouth since 2014, having previously worked as an Assistant Professor at Long Island University in Brookville, NY. He teaches core coursework in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School Counseling, Marriage and Family Therapy, and School Psychology programs.  

Mike Mariska served as the president of the North Atlantic Region Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (NARACES) for the 2017-2018 academic year, currently serves as the Technology Chair, and has held multiple positions on the NARACES board. In 2020, NARACES recognized him with the Marijane Fall Counselor Educator of the Year award. Dr. Mariska also serves as an accreditation site team leader for the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), visiting and reviewing programs seeking accreditation or re-accreditation under CACREP standards. His clinical experiences also include work in other college counseling centers, career counseling, and community counseling with a variety of populations in multiple areas of the country. Prior to entering the counseling field, he worked as a program coordinator for multiple nonprofit organizations.

Degrees and Education

  • PhD, Counselor Education and Counseling, Idaho State University
  • MS, Community Counseling, Southern Connecticut State University
  • BA, Psychology, University of Connecticut

Research Interests

  • Counselor Education and Preparation
  • Individual and Group Skills Training
  • Counselor Empathy and Self-Efficacy Development
  • LGBTQQIA+ Issues in Counseling
  • Incorporating Neuroscience into Counselor Education and Practice

Courses Taught

  • Counseling Theories and Personality
  • Psychopharmacology and the Biological Basis of Mental Health
  • Group Counseling
  • Counseling Skills
  • Practicum
  • Seminar and Internship in Mental Health Counseling