Assistant Professor, CRC

I like to say that my research focus is on topics that people find difficult to talk about. My primary research focuses on people with disabilities and sexuality, sex education and the impact of sexual health on wellbeing. I recently completed a research project examining the role of self-compassion, humility and mindfulness on culturally responsive counseling and the experiences of students with talking about race and racism in the classroom. This has launched me into the realm of self-compassion and my current projects include the role of self-compassion for people with disabilities, and for people in the menopause transition. I also continue my work studying sexuality and sexual health. I am a certified Rehabilitation Counselor and have spent much of my career counseling and advocating for youth with disabilities, particularly around sexuality and healthy relationships education. My doctoral degree is in Rehabilitation Counselor Education from the University of Wisconsin Madison, and I am an alumnus of Marquette University, having received my master's degree in public service and health administration as part of the Trinity Fellows program, after serving as a volunteer in the US Peace Corps.

Dr. Kriofske Mainella will take on a new counseling psychology doctoral student for Fall 2025.

Recent Publications and/or Presentations

• Kriofske Mainella, A. M., Raval., G., Koziol, C., & Callender, K. A. (2023). Getting on the same page in multicultural counseling training. Counselor Education and Supervision, Online first, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ceas.12292
• Kriofske Mainella, A. M., Callender, K. A. & Laubacher, S. (2023). Sex education through the lifespan: A intervention for older adults in changing attitudes and comfort with sexuality. Gerontology and Geriatrics Education, Online first, https://doi.org/10.1080/02701960.2023.2280061
• Ruiz, D., Kriofske Mainella, A. M., & Rosenthal, D. (2023). The pursuit of intimacy: Intimate relationships development for women with physical disabilities. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 4:1070501. https://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2023.1070501
• Kriofske Mainella, A. M. & Smedema, S. (2022). Sexual health education and life satisfaction for people with congenital neurological disabilities. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 66(1),46-57. https://doi.org/10.1177/00343552211031870