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Staff Therapist
Education
A.M. in Clinical Social Work, University of Chicago's Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy & Practice
B.A. in English, University of Tennessee
I Treat
Young Adult
Adult
Couple & Marriage
Issues I Treat
Affairs & Infidelity
Anxiety Disorders
Learning Disabilities
Life Stage Transitions
Medical Illness / Chronic Illness / Disability
Parenting Issues
Perfectionism
Racism Issues
Self-Harm
Suicidality
Trauma
Work / Life Balance
Stress Management
Spirituality / Religion
Addiction
Adult Children & Parent Relationship Issues
Anger Management
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) & Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Borderline Personality Disorder
Cognitive Flexibility / Executive Functioning
Cultural Transition / Immigration Issues
Asperger’s
Autism
Body Dysmorphic Disorder
Child-Parent Attachment Issues
College (Transition to)
Compulsions
Couples Conflict
Eating Disorders
Depression / Mood Disorders
Developmental Disorders
Divorce / Marital Separation / Post-Divorce Adjustment
Divorce Impact on Children
Emotion Regulation Issues
Domestic Violence
Empty Nest Issues
Families with Chronically Mentally Ill Members
Family Business Issues
Family of Origin Issues
Grief & Loss
Health Enhancement / Smoking Cessation / Diet / Illness Prevention
In-law Relationships
Job Loss
Kink / Alternative Lifestyles
LGBTQIA+ Identity & Relationships
Mediation / Conflict Resolution
Men’s Issues
Midlife (Transitions in)
Money / Finance Related Issues
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Panic
Parenthood (Transition to)
Perinatal Mood / Anxiety Disorders
Personality Disorders
Phobias
Physical Abuse
Polyamory, Non-monogamy, Non-traditional Relationships
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Premarital Counseling
Psychological Assessment & Testing / Neuropsychological Testing
Remarriage
Retirement (Transition to)
School Refusal
School Stress
Sexual Abuse
Sibling Issues
Special Needs Children & Their Families
Step or Blended Families
Substance Abuse
Therapists in Therapy
Workplace Issues
Types of Therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Psychodynamic Therapy
Mindfulness & Behavior Therapies
Meditation
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Couple Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
About

Chris Akel, M.S.W. (he/him) is trained in a variety of 3rd wave theories including Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and the Unified Protocol. Prior to his time at The Family Institute, Mr. Akel worked on the Case Management team of a residential treatment center, and previous to this, he worked as a middle and high school teacher and college counselor. At The Family Institute, he is focused on building therapeutic spaces for young adults, adults, families, and couples. His roots are in the fine art world, languages, and as a Palestinian American, he grounds his practice within a long lineage of universal liberation.

Other Professional Involvement/Leadership Positions

Director and Co-Founder of Pathways, college counseling for Palestinian youth

Obama Scholar Fellowship Alumni

Teach for America Alumni

Awards
Contextual Behavior Practices Program of Study Recipient
Obama Foundation Scholar
Wilma Walker Honor Award
Insurance Accepted
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Out of Network Reimbursement
Self Pay
Medicare
Languages
English