Discernment Counseling with Gabriel Trees, MA
Are you on the brink of divorce —
but not completely sure?
If you or your partner are facing the possibility of ending your marriage, you are likely in a painful and confusing place. Relationships are complex, but you do not have to navigate this heavy decision alone.
“I help couples on the brink of divorce pause, find clarity, and confidently choose their next path.”
Often, couples at this crossroads have different agendas: one partner may be leaning out of the relationship, while the other is desperate to save it. Traditional marriage counseling can feel frustrating and draining when you aren't even sure you both want the same outcome.
Short-term: 1 to 5 sessions
Private 1-on-1 breakouts
Online across Oregon
THE MIXED AGENDA DILEMMA
Partner A
Leaning In
Partner B
Leaning Out
Discernment Counseling honors both spaces without taking sides.
This feels cluttered - or like too much text - would like to shift that but not sure how
Stops the marital tailspin: Gives you an immediate timeout to lower tension.
Honors your different emotional spaces: Validates wherever each of you stands right now.
Explores three clear pathways: Evaluates staying as you are, divorcing, or committing to focused therapy.
Shifts focus from fixing to deciding: Prioritizes clarity over forcing premature repair.
Examines individual roles: Helps each of you see your own part without blame.
Deepens insight via private conversations: Uses one-on-one time so you can speak honestly and safely.
Prevents half-hearted therapy: Avoids wasting time and money if one partner isn't fully invested.
Promotes an amicable separation: Lays the groundwork for a healthier, less adversarial process if you divorce.
Offers a brief commitment: Lasts a maximum of five sessions, letting you take it one step at a time.
How Discernment Counseling Can Help Couples on the Brink:
Bill Doherty’s Video Here
Bill Doherty Founder on Discernment Counseling
How the First session of Discernment Counseling Works
About Gabriel
Hello, I’m Gabriel Trees, a relationship therapist based in Portland, OR. Facing a marital crisis takes immense courage, and my goal is to provide a grounded, steady presence to help you navigate it.
Portland has been my home for 25 years, but I also spent formative years in New England and Georgia. This background allows me to combine Northeast straightforwardness, Southern conscientiousness, and PNW openness. Instead of rigid, generic advice,
I bring a down-to-earth perspective as a specialist trained in Discernment Counseling to help you cut through the noise and find clarity.
Before becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist, I spent years in the workforce as an entry-level worker, small business owner, and everything in between. This real-world experience, combined with being a husband, parent, and friend, helps me understand the everyday pressures that strain a marriage.
I know firsthand that relationships are complex, and I bring that deeply human understanding into the therapy room.
When I’m not working, I love to laugh with my family and friends—humor is essential to my well-being. Music, too, has been a lifelong companion and teacher.
Performing, writing, and recording remain integral to my life. If your marriage has lost its rhythm, I am here to help you discern the right path forward.
For me, everything is a matter of rhythm and harmony, and the therapy room is no exception
Credentials
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Master of Arts in Marriage, Couple, and Family Therapy from Lewis & Clark College School of Education.
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Portland State University Honors College.
Undergraduate Thesis: “Music Education as a Potential Mediator for Social Decline”
Marriage and Family Therapy Associate with the Oregon Board of Licenced Professional Counselors and Therapists.
Graduate Internship with Lewis & Clark College Counseling Clinic
Graduate Externship with William Temple House Counseling Clinic
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Gottman Method Level 3 Certification
Discernment Counseling Training with the Doherty Institute
Apprenticeship with the Oregon Prison Project
Mentorship with Rose City Nonviolent Communication
Speciality training in Acceptance & Commitment Therapy at Lewis & Clark College
Speciality training in Engaging Boys & Men at Lewis & Clark College
Speciality training in Play and Family Therapy at Lewis & Clark College
Speciality training in Death & Loss at Lewis & Clark College
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Graduated summa cum laude
President’s List for academic excellence
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The National Society of Collegiate Scholars: NSCS
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Psychology Today
Good Therapy
Portland Therapy Center
Portland Therapy Den
"Love is a friendship set to music."
― Joseph Campbell
Frequently Asked Questions
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We accept Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and can provide a receipt for out-of-network reimbursement. However, we do not bill insurance companies directly, and are not currently in-network.
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Discernment Counseling two-hour Initial Intake is $460
Discernment Counseling 1.5 hour follow up sessions are $345 -
I offer both In-person visits at our SE Belmont office- or Telehealth sessions