Go From Distress to Building a Life with Meaning and Joy

When anxiety, chronic distress, or overwhelming emotions take over, it’s easy to feel stuck in a loop of self-doubt and disconnection. I work with individuals—adolescents, adults, and couples—who struggle with relationship challenges, overwhelming emotions, and unhelpful behaviors that keep them from moving forward. Whether it’s navigating chronic anxiety, self-sabotaging patterns, or relational conflicts, I take a practical, process-based approach to help you reconnect with what matters most.

√ Empirically supported & Evidence-Based Treatments

√ In-person and virtual sessions available

√ A variety of insurances accepted

√ Fluent in English, Spanish, and Arabic

A photo of Karem Muksed, a licensed therapist at Chicago Therapy Group, offering personalized, evidence-based therapy for individuals and couples seeking support for stress, anxiety, trauma, and more.

Have questions? Karem is a Licensed Social Worker at The Chicago Therapy Group. You can call or message Karem directly at (708) 847-3886 or at karem.muksed@chicagotherapy.com.

Karem Muksed is Verified by Psychology Today

How the Therapy Process Works

Icon representing "Initial Contact and Consultation," symbolizing the first step in the therapy process where clients can reach out via email or phone to discuss their needs and explore if therapy is the right fit

1. Initial Contact and Consultation

You can reach out via email, or phone to schedule an initial consultation. This is a brief conversation to understand your needs and determine if we are the right fit.

Icon representing "Scheduling Your First Appointment," depicting the process of booking your initial therapy session after the consultation, with options for both in-person and virtual sessions available to suit your preferences.

2. Scheduling Your First Appointment

After the consultation, you can book your first therapy session. Options for in-person or virtual sessions are available.

Icon representing "Assessment and Goal Setting," illustrating the process where Karem conducts a detailed assessment during the first sessions to understand concerns, history, and goals, leading to the creation of a personalized treatment plan.

3. Assessment and Goal Setting

During the first few sessions, Karem will conduct a thorough assessment to understand your concerns, history, and goals. Together, we will identify areas of focus and create a personalized treatment plan.

Icon representing "Engaging in Therapy," symbolizing the start of regular therapy sessions that use evidence-based approaches tailored to individual needs

4. Engaging in Therapy

You will then begin regular therapy sessions, using empirically supported approaches tailored to your needs. These sessions will help you work through challenges, break unhelpful patterns, and develop coping strategies.

Icon representing "Progress and Ongoing Support," illustrating the continuous monitoring of client progress by Karem, including treatment adjustments and ongoing support to help clients reflect on improvements and work toward their long-term goals.

5. Progress and Ongoing Support

Throughout the process, Karem will continuously monitor progress, adjust treatment as needed, and provide ongoing support. Clients will have the opportunity to reflect on improvements and work toward long-term goals.

Treatment Approaches

A variety of empirically supported therapies are used to address your unique needs. These approaches are designed to help you overcome challenges, break free from harmful patterns, and cultivate lasting change.

  • Icon representing "Experiential Therapy," illustrating a hands-on therapeutic approach where clients and Karem work together to navigate challenges, akin to learning to drive with Karem providing support from the passenger seat.

    Experiential Therapy

    Experiential therapy is a hands-on approach where we navigate challenges together, like learning to drive with me supporting from the passenger seat.

  • Icon representing "Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)," symbolizing a therapeutic approach focused on building psychological flexibility and helping clients accept their thoughts and feelings while committing to actions aligned with their values

    Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

    Focuses on building psychological flexibility, a key component for mental wellbeing and strength.

  • Icon representing "Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)," symbolizing a therapeutic approach designed to help couples address distress and improve their relationships through a blend of behavioral techniques and emotional support

    Integrative Behavioral Couple Therapy (IBCT)

    IBCT is an empirically supported treatment for couples in distress. It is effective in reducing distress and strengthening relationship.

  • Icon representing "Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)," illustrating a therapeutic approach that combines cognitive-behavioral techniques with mindfulness practices to help individuals build emotional regulation skills

    Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

    Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) helps individuals build a fulfilling life by accepting their experiences and making meaningful, positive changes for growth.

Pricing

Individual Sessions

$135

You're seeking therapy to address personal challenges like stress, anxiety, or trauma, and you're looking for a space where you can feel supported and understood.

Insurance accepted:

  • Aetna

  • BlueCross and BlueShield

  • Cigna and Evernorth

  • Sliding scale: You may qualify for reduced rates based on eligibility.

  • Payment methods: Discover, Mastercard

Icon representing "Therapy for Personal Challenges," depicting a safe and supportive space for individuals seeking help with stress, anxiety, or trauma, where they can feel understood and empowered to address their personal challenges.

Couple Sessions

$135

You're seeking couples therapy to address challenges in your relationship, whether it's communication issues, conflict resolution, or rebuilding trust.

Insurance accepted:

  • Aetna

  • BlueCross and BlueShield

  • Cigna and Evernorth

  • Sliding scale: You may qualify for reduced rates based on eligibility.

  • Payment methods: Discover, Mastercard

Icon representing "Couples Therapy," illustrating a supportive environment for partners seeking help with relationship challenges, including communication issues, conflict resolution, and rebuilding trust to strengthen their connection.

About Karem

We all want meaningful relationships and a life that feels true to who we are. But sometimes, internal struggles—like chronic anxiety, unresolved relationship challenges, ineffective communication or behaviors that don’t serve us—keep us stuck. I help teens, adults and couples untangle these patterns so they can reconnect with what matters and start building the life they want.

My work is rooted in evidence-based approaches like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Together, we’ll address what’s keeping you stuck—whether it’s overwhelming emotions, self-sabotaging habits, or relational conflicts—and develop practical strategies to navigate life’s challenges.

As someone who’s faced my own share of life’s transitions, I know how overwhelming it can feel to take that first step toward change. You don’t need to have it all figured out to start—just a willingness to discover what is possible. Let’s work together to break free from what’s holding you back and create the life you want.


Originally from southern Iraq, I grew up on a small farm and have lived in Syria and a few countries in Latin America. These experiences have shaped my perspective. My style is warm, practical, acceptance-based, and slightly irreverent.

Karem’s Speciality

  • Complex Trauma

  • Grief & Loss

  • Depression and Anxiety

  • Chronic Distress

  • Relationship Issues

  • Boundaries and Limits

  • Motivation, Values, and Commitments

  • Life Transitions & Burnout

  • Mindfulness and Meditative Practices

Education, Licensure, & Awards

  • University of Chicago-Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice

  • Master of Art’s - Clinical Social Work

  • Illinois Licensed Social Worker

  • University of Chicago- Obama Scholar

  • Future Leaders Foundation- Fellow

  • The Family Institute at Northwestern University - Mindfulness and Behavior Therapies Program Fellow (2023-2024)

FAQS

  • The first session typically serves as an intake session, where the focus is on gathering a detailed history, exploring the presenting problem, and discussing the treatment goals.

  • The answer depends on what you would like to address and what you would like to be able to do by the end of treatment.

  • Therapy can be quite challenging, and it’s common for things to feel worse before they get better, especially at the beginning. Generally, therapy is effective when you begin to relate to yourself differently, which in turn affects how you relate to others.

    • Individual: $160

    • Coupe: $160

  • Yes, I currently accept BCBS PPO, Cigna, and Aetna

  • The answer depends on your goals and what you hope to achieve. Typically, once the initial goals are met, we can transition to biweekly sessions.


Let’s work together!