Kaleb Jernigan

Therapy for teens and young adults who are trying so hard to get everything right while still figuring out who they are.

Anxiety. Perfectionism. Identity.
It’s hard enough figuring out who you are without also wondering whether you’re doing it wrong.

In-person in Suwanee, Georgia
Online across Georgia

Get started in therapy with Kaleb

Hey, I’m Kaleb.

Being a teenager comes with a weird amount of pressure to know who you are while you’re still actively figuring that out.

I especially enjoy working with teens who are anxious, hard on themselves, or feel like they don’t quite fit. Maybe you put a lot of pressure on yourself to get things right. Maybe you’re trying to sort out what you actually want versus what other people expect from you. Or maybe you’re still figuring out where you belong.

As a gay person who grew up in the South, I know how isolating it can feel when you’re not sure the people around you will understand or accept important parts of who you are.

You don’t need to come in with a label, an explanation, or a perfectly organized list of Things We Need to Discuss.

You’re allowed to still be figuring it out.

My therapy style

Every therapist brings something different into the room. Here's a little of mine.

curious

I’m naturally curious about people and what makes them tick. I like asking questions, noticing connections, and looking beyond what’s happening on the surface to understand the bigger picture. I’m not coming in assuming I already know the answer.

gentle

I tend to approach people with patience and care. I’m not someone who’s going to push just for the sake of pushing. I pay attention to where you are, what you’re ready for, and when it might be helpful to slow down rather than barrel ahead.

warm

I’m naturally pretty easygoing, and I like therapy to feel like a real conversation between two people. I bring warmth and humor into the room, and I’m just as comfortable sitting with the serious stuff as I am laughing with you when something is genuinely funny.

“You’re allowed to figure out who you are without worrying about disappointing everyone else.”

get started in therapy with kaleb

Kaleb Jernigan, intern therapist at Empower Counseling in Suwanee, Georgia

When Everything Feels Like Something You Can Get Wrong

School. Friendships. Family. Your future. What you said in that text three hours ago. Who you are. Who you’re supposed to be.

When you put a lot of pressure on yourself, even ordinary decisions can start to feel loaded.

You might replay conversations, worry about disappointing people, or spend so much time trying to make the “right” choice that it gets hard to know what you actually want.

And when you already feel different or unsure where you fit, the stakes can feel even higher.

You learn to pay attention. To expectations. To other people’s reactions. To what gets approval and what doesn’t.

After a while, “What do I want?” can become a surprisingly hard question to answer.

This Is Where We Get Curious

The goal isn’t to convince you to stop caring what anyone thinks or magically become fearless.

It’s to understand where all that pressure is coming from... and which parts of it you actually want to keep carrying.

Together, we can start sorting out the anxiety, expectations, perfectionism, and questions about identity without deciding ahead of time what the answers are supposed to be.

Because figuring yourself out is hard enough without grading yourself on how well you’re doing it.

You might recognize yourself here...

Some of the experiences and patterns that often bring people into therapy with me.

feeling different

You’ve always had a sense that you don’t quite fit. Other people seem to know the rules somehow, while you’re still trying to figure out where you belong and how to be yourself when you get there.

identity

You’re trying to separate who you actually are from who you’ve been expected to be. Some answers feel clear... but others? Not so much. You’re figuring out what fits and what feels genuinely like you.

overfunctioning

You’re used to being responsible, capable, and the one who handles things. Even when you’re overwhelmed, asking for help can somehow feel harder than just doing more.

perfectionism

Getting it “good enough” rarely feels good enough. You put pressure on yourself to do things right, avoid mistakes, and make choices you won’t regret later or disappoint anyone along the way.

anxiety

Your brain is always three steps ahead, imagining what could go wrong. You overthink decisions, replay conversations, and worry about things other people seem able to shrug off.

lgbt+ & belonging

You’re figuring out who you are while also wondering how other people will respond. Being yourself can feel complicated when acceptance doesn’t always feel guaranteed.

You deserve space where you don't have to edit yourself first.

what to know before we start

Kaleb works with teens who are trying to figure out who they are while navigating all the pressure that can come with growing up. Many of his clients are dealing with anxiety, perfectionism, feeling different, identity exploration, LGBTQ+ concerns, or the pressure to keep everything together even when they're overwhelmed.

locations

In-person Counseling in Suwanee (Gwinnett County / North Atlanta)
Online therapy across Georgia

rates

Intake (45–60 min): $125*
Ongoing sessions (45–50 min): $150*

*Our Intern Therapists offer a pay-what-you-can model for clients who may need additional financial flexibility while receiving thoughtful, supported care within our collaborative clinical team.

credentials

Practicing under the supervision of Elaine Moss, LCSW
MSW Candidate, University of Georgia
B.S. Human Services, University of North Georgia

background

Kaleb is completing his graduate degree in social work at the University of Georgia and especially enjoys working with teens who are navigating anxiety, identity, belonging, and the pressure to get things right. Kaleb understands how isolating it can feel to wonder whether the people around you will understand or accept important parts of who you are. He is especially passionate about creating an affirming space for LGBTQ+ teens and others who have felt different, misunderstood, or unsure where they belong.

You can put some of the pressure down.

You spend enough time worrying about getting things right, keeping up, and not disappointing people.

You deserve somewhere you don’t have to carry all of that.

get started in therapy with kaleb

Empower Counseling specializes in EMDR therapy for complex trauma, offering affirming care for neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ clients. Our therapists help smart, sensitive overachievers who feel stuck, burned out, or like something always seems to get in the way through trauma therapy, EMDR therapy, and anxiety counseling.

Areas we serve: Therapy is available in person in Suwanee, serving Gwinnett County and the North Atlanta area, and online across Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and Illinois.

Empower Counseling Center, LLC
4411 Suwanee Dam Rd, #450 | Suwanee, GA 30024
Call or Text: 770-685-6790 | Fax: 770-727-8786 | Email: hello@empowercounseling.net

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