What Is Virtual Reality (VR) Therapy And Is It Right For Me?
Over the last two decades, there has been an increase in demand for virtual reality (VR) as a therapeutic tool to aid the treatment of anxiety & specific phobias, and for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Whether you have tried therapy in the past or you are new to treatment, keep reading to find out more about how VR therapy can help you feel better today.
What is Virtual Reality (VR) Therapy?
Virtual Reality Therapy allows therapists to create controlled, immersive environments that simulate triggers associated with PTSD, Specific Phobias, and Social Anxiety. Individuals can gradually confront and process their issues in a safe and controlled setting. This exposure can help desensitize a person to their triggers and reduce the intensity of their emotional responses over time.
How Does Virtual Reality Therapy Work?
VR Therapy consists of a computer-generated virtual environment (VE) that can be used to augment & enhance well-established therapeutic techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy (ET).
By stimulating the user’s senses, VR therapy provides a realistic and immersive experience that elicits the sense of anxiety that the client would experience during real-world exposures.
Trained therapists can use this as a tool in place of real-life exposures for anxiety & stress-related conditions when it is too complicated to engage in an exposure in the real world because of time and safety precautions.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy
VR therapy has the same therapeutic objective as Exposure Therapy (ET), which helps clients confront fear-inducing situations through guided exposures with support from the therapist. This process allows the person to learn a different response, build distress tolerance, and challenge existing fears rather than reinforce them.
What is unique about VR therapy is that it is a great tool for when there is difficulty doing in-vivo exposures. For example, if you are seeking treatment for PTSD, this is an excellent resource when it is not possible to recreate certain scenarios or experiences in the real world.
Treatment is personalized to your specific needs and level of comfort. Working closely with your therapist, you will pick a proper scenario and level for your exposure to achieve the best results and reduce anxiety over time.
VR therapy can help with a wide variety of issues
Virtual Reality Therapy helps with a range of issues, including:
VR Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
PTSD is a condition that can arise after you experience a life-threatening event or witness or learn about a life-threatening event happening to a loved one. Common symptoms include:
thinking over and over about what happened
trying to avoid people, places or things that remind you of the event
feeling numb, having trouble relaxing, or feeling ‘on-edge’ all of the time
Some examples of life-threatening events that can lead to PTSD include exposure to violence, natural disasters, car accidents, terrorism, military service, and war.
VR therapy can incorporate cognitive-behavioral techniques to help you reframe their thoughts and beliefs related to the traumatic event.
VR Therapy for Specific Phobias
A specific phobia is an extreme fear of a specific situation, object, or setting that can make you highly anxious - even when there is no posed threat to your safety. These fears are persistent and lead individuals to avoid those situations. Common phobias that VR Therapy can help with include:
fear of heights
flying
animals/insects
blood/needles
elevators
Therapists can design scenarios that start with less anxiety-provoking situations and progressively increase the level of exposure. This gradual approach helps you confront their fears step by step, leading to desensitization over time.
VR Therapy for Social Anxiety Disorder
Social anxiety disorder is characterized by overwhelming distress in everyday social situations. Individuals with social anxiety disorder have a heightened fear of being watched and judged by others and of being embarrassed or humiliated. Social anxiety disorder can also be limited to only one type of situation—such as a fear of public speaking.
Virtual Reality (VR) therapy can be a valuable tool in helping people with social anxiety disorder (SAD) by providing a controlled and immersive environment to practice and develop social skills.
What To Expect From Virtual Reality Therapy
We like to think of Virtual Reality Therapy as a tool, not necessarily the full intervention.
As CBT clinicians, this intervention may be used to support & enhance different evidence-based treatments like:
CBT for Anxiety, or
Exposure & Response Prevention (ERP) for phobias and social anxiety disorder.
A trained therapist will conduct a comprehensive intake assessment and take into account any other co-occurring issues in order to personalize treatment to your specific needs and to make appropriate recommendations.
Virtual reality therapy, if appropriate, typically ranges from 10-16 sessions for certain issues.
Generally, sessions occur weekly, for 45 minutes.
More intensive therapy options are available, including multiple sessions per week and ranging from 60 to 90 minutes or longer.
Embark on Your Journey to Healing with VR Therapy
Discover a revolutionary approach to conquering anxiety and stress-related challenges through Virtual Reality Therapy. Our clinical team at CBT of Central & South Florida is thrilled to introduce this innovative treatment method that has transformed lives.
Sign up for a complimentary 15-minute consultation with our experienced therapists, specially tailored to those contemplating the transformative power of Virtual Reality Therapy. In-person VR Therapy sessions are currently offered exclusively in Orlando.
Don't let anxiety and stress hold you back any longer. Begin your journey to a more fulfilling life today. Click here to request a consultation.