Who do you work with?

I work with individuals, couples, and families navigating relationship distress, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, depression, family conflict, estrangement, life transitions, emotional gridlock, substance use, self harm, suicidal ideation, and identity and cultural concerns.

Do you offer online therapy or only in-person sessions in Chicago?

I see clients in person in Chicago and online throughout Illinois.

Do you offer therapy in Arabic?

Yes. I am an Iraqi-American therapist and offer therapy in Arabic and English. I work often with first-generation, immigrant, and multicultural clients and families.

How do I schedule a free consultation?

You can request a free consultation through the scheduling link on the site, or call (708) 847-3886.

Karem Muksed, LCSW · Chicago & online throughout Illinois

Therapy for relationship distress, trauma, and emotional gridlock.

Q: What therapeutic approaches do you use?

My work integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Crucible Therapy, Crucible Neurobiological Therapy, and The ACT Crucible — a method I created combining ACT with Crucible Therapy and differentiation.

I help individuals, couples, and families understand the patterns that keep them stuck, strengthen their relationships, and create meaningful, lasting change.

Schedule a free consultation Explore my approach

Relationship Therapist · Chicago & Online Throughout Illinois

Karem Muksed, LCSW — Chicago relationship therapist

LCSW · Relationship therapist

Therapy for the relationships that shape your life

Helping individuals, couples, and families move beyond distress, strengthen connection, and create meaningful change.

Work with me

Four ways we can work together.

Couples Therapy

Move beyond recurring conflict and emotional distance. Rebuild trust, communication, and intimacy.

Individual Therapy

Understand what keeps you stuck and reconnect with what matters. For anxiety, trauma, depression, and relationship distress.

Family Therapy

Navigate parent–child conflict, adult family dynamics, estrangement, and cultural or generational differences.

Relationship Intensives

Extended, focused sessions for couples and families in crisis or ready for accelerated growth.

Specialties

More than relationships.

Although much of my work centers on relationships, people come to therapy for a wide range of concerns. I work with individuals, couples, and families across these areas.

Relationship distress
Trauma and PTSD
Anxiety
Depression
Family conflict
Estrangement
Life transitions
Emotional gridlock
Substance use
Self harm
Suicidal ideation
Identity & cultural concerns

My approach

Practical, compassionate, and direct.

In my work, I use ACT, DBT, Crucible Therapy, Crucible Neurobiological Therapy, and The ACT Crucible, I create a personalized approach to help you understand what keeps you stuck and practice something different.

Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Psychological flexibility: staying present, open, and guided by your values.

DBT

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Practical therapy for regulating emotions, tolerating distress, and creating a life worth living

Crucible

The ACT Crucible

A method I developed that integrates ACT with Crucible Therapy: A pragmatic approach to build extraordinary relationships

Crucible Therapy

Building differentiation and intimacy: the capacity to stay connected to yourself while emotionally engaged with others.

CNT

Crucible Neurobiological Therapy

Integrating neuroscience with differentiation to address how the brain and nervous system shape relational patterns and trauma responses.

Multicultural & Arabic-speaking therapy

Therapy in Arabic, English and Spanglish, with cultural fluency.

I'm an Iraqi-American therapist who grew up in Chicago and have lived across Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. I offer therapy in Arabic and English.

That background shapes how I work with first-generation and immigrant clients, family expectations, cultural identity, belonging, and intercultural relationships.

Why work with me

Trained, experienced, and genuinely in this with you.

Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
The University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice
Advanced training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Fellowship training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Creator of The ACT Crucible
Experience with individuals, couples & families
Receives ongoing expert supervision and consultation to provide high quality care

Therapy in Chicago & across Illinois

In person in Chicago. Online throughout Illinois.

I provide couples therapy, individual therapy, and family therapy in Chicago, with online sessions available to clients anywhere in Illinois. As an LCSW, ACT therapist, and DBT therapist serving Chicago, I work with relationship counseling, marriage counseling, trauma therapy, PTSD treatment, anxiety treatment, depression, and family counseling across a wide range of life situations.

Whether you're searching for a Chicago therapist, a couples counselor in Chicago, a family therapist, or a trauma therapist offering online therapy in Illinois, the goal of the first conversation is to see whether you think we're a good fit.

Schedule a free consultation

Change starts with a conversation.

If you are wondering whether we are a good fit, schedule a free consultation. Even if I am not the right therapist for you, I will do my best to help you find the support you need.

Schedule a consultation