Marita Poll Counselling Services

Counselling offers a place to slow down, understand the complexity of what is happening, and discover new ways of coping while reconnecting with yourself. For over 20 years, I have had the privilege of counselling people living with cancer and their families through diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, recurrence, advanced illness, and grief.

My name is Marita Poll. I am a Registered Clinical Counsellor and an Approved Clinical Supervisor with the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors, practicing in Victoria, B.C. I provide individual counselling for adults either in-person, by telephone, or virtually.

How counselling can help...

1. To have a chance to talk and be truly heard; to experience support with the focus on you. Many people experience a sense of relief, closure, and increased resiliency from supportive counselling.
2. Gain clarity, perspective, and insight through the counselling dialogue. Counselling promotes your resiliency and natural strengths.
3. Create change and learn skills. For example, learning stress-reduction and coping skills, or processing grief due to the loss of a family member. As an experienced oncology counsellor, I am a skilled guide in navigating the landscape of cancer, grief, and caregiving a loved one with advanced disease.
4. Work on more complex issues, such as healing from childhood abuse or a recent assault. Many people find Trauma Therapy to be healing and transformative. Over time and with practice, we can work together to increase your sense of safety which promotes your natural self-healing.

Areas of Specialization

Living with Cancer & Advanced Illness

• advanced or terminal disease
• uncertainty
• recurrence
• survivorship

Grief & Loss

• due to death, including loss related to Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD)
• anticipatory grief
• complicated grief
• major life transitions (divorce, retirement)

Caregiving

• family caregivers
• healthcare professionals
• navigating caregiving for a loved one living with an advanced or palliative disease
• caregiver fatigue and burnout

Trauma

• recent trauma
• historic trauma (e.g., childhood)
• stabilizing and reducing the impact of traumatic events (recent and past) through education, skill development, and trauma therapy

Stress & Anxiety

• learning skills and perspectives