Arthur (AJ) Spoerner

Arthur (AJ) Spoerner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 20 years of direct practice in Indiana. He focuses on helping adults and adolescents who have experienced complex trauma, impulsivity, anger challenges, and ADHD. AJ uses practical interventions and clear strategies to reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning. He offers a straightforward, goal-oriented approach that aims to make therapy feel manageable and useful from the first session.

AJ has particular experience supporting people coping with chronic pain, long-term illness or disability, and distress related to cancer treatment. He also works with concerns tied to end-of-life issues and caregiving strain. These areas inform how he selects interventions and plans sessions.

In sessions, AJ addresses negative thinking and beliefs that contribute to painful behavior patterns. He combines Trauma-Focused Therapy with approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy to match the moment-to-moment needs of the person in front of him. The emphasis is on skills, pacing, and concrete steps you can try between visits.

Sessions begin with a longer intake to get a clear picture of concerns and goals. After that, follow-up sessions are shorter and focused on skills practice, problem solving, and tracking changes. AJ checks messages once daily in the evening and asks clients to plan messaging with that schedule in mind.

He offers audio and video counseling on weekday evenings. Session lengths are 45 minutes for the first appointment and 30 minutes for subsequent meetings. Prospective clients should review session timing before booking.

How AJ applies therapy approaches in online sessions

Trauma-Focused Therapy aims to address the impacts of traumatic experiences by working carefully through difficult memories and reactions while building coping skills. It is often used for people struggling with the lasting effects of abuse, accidents, or other traumatic events.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without being driven by them. It combines mindfulness and values-based goals to guide choices and build a life that matters despite ongoing distress.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing small behavioral changes to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, or impulsivity. It often involves homework between sessions to practice new skills.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. AJ collaborates with each person to figure out which methods match their needs, goals, and comfort level. He will adjust pace and tools as trust and progress develop, making decisions together rather than prescribing a single path.

AJ offers audio and video counseling for evening sessions, with a longer first meeting and shorter follow-ups. When booking, confirm the available session options and timing. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow for concise check-ins on workdays. Be sure to discuss what will help you engage in sessions, such as whether video or audio feels better, so those choices support the work you want to do.