Arthur (AJ) Spoerner , LCSW

Arthur (AJ) Spoerner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) based in Indiana with more than 20 years of experience delivering integrated interventions for adults and adolescents. He focuses on helping people who have experienced complex trauma and those managing impulsivity, anger, ADHD, depression, anxiety, addictions, and related challenges. He also brings focused support for individuals coping with chronic pain, long-term illness or disability, distress tied to cancer treatment, and end-of-life concerns.

Drawing on a range of therapeutic tools, he offers practical strategies to address negative thinking and self-defeating beliefs that contribute to emotional pain and disruptive behavior. His work includes skill-building for emotion regulation, approaches for relational and intimacy-related difficulties, and support for caregivers, first responders, and people facing major life transitions. He provides guidance for parenting, career concerns, and issues around self-esteem and grief.

At this time he is not accepting new clients. When seeing clients, he offers counseling by audio or video only and schedules sessions on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday evenings. Initial sessions are 45 minutes, with follow-up sessions typically lasting 30 minutes. He checks messages once a day, usually in the evening, and messages left after 8:30 pm will be answered the following day. He does not provide emergency services; if someone needs urgent help or is in crisis, he directs them to call 1-800-273-8255, call 911, or go to a local emergency room.

Approaches for Online Care - ACT, CBT, and DBT

Arthur (AJ) Spoerner integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into his online practice. ACT focuses on helping people accept difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and taking meaningful action - it can be useful for chronic pain, anxiety, and coping with life changes. CBT works by identifying and reshaping unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms of depression, anxiety, and problematic coping. DBT emphasizes practical skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, and is often helpful for managing intense emotions, impulsivity, and relationship challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and he collaborates with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative exploration helps shape a tailored plan that can evolve over time.

Online therapy with a licensed professional offers practical flexibility - sessions can be scheduled as video calls or phone sessions, and supplemental contact can occur through live chat or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to access care from home or between commitments, support consistent attendance, and allow therapists to use a variety of tools and exercises that translate well to remote work.