How to Overcome
Fear of Trains:
Siderodromophobia
Therapy with VR

While siderodromophobia often develops from personal experiences, research has shown that genetic and biological factors can play a major role in shaping how an individual responds to fear-inducing situations.

Genetically, this does not mean that the fear can be inherited, but that it is possible for a tendency toward heightened anxiety or phobic reactions to be passed down generations. For example, individuals who come from families with a history of panic attacks or phobias, such as the fear of trains, are more likely to develop similar conditions themselves.

On the biological level, the brain area that is responsible for detecting and responding, can become overly sensitive such that it sends exaggerated fear signals even when the actual danger is minimal or non-existent.

Essentially, some individuals can be predisposed to anxiety-based reactions as a result of inherited brain patterns or neurochemical imbalances that make them more vulnerable to irrational fears than others.

Yes. For most individuals struggling with siderodromophobia, the origin of the fear can be traced back to a specific traumatic or distressing experience that involved train or train travel. This experience could be anything, ranging from witnessing or surviving an accident, being trapped in a crowded carriage, hearing about a derailment, or even experiencing severe anxiety during a past journey. The brain stores these events and automatically causes them to surface when a train-related situation/discussion arises, causing a trigger of the same fear response.

In some cases, the trauma does not have to be experienced firsthand. Simply hearing vivid stories or watching distressing news reports about train incidents can create a powerful mental association between trains and danger. What then happens after this association is that the mind learns to anticipate fear even when the actual danger is not present – transforming a bad experience into a persistent phobia.

Our environment and cultural upbringing can intricately shape how we perceive safety and risk, including how we feel about trains or travelling by them. For instance, an individual who grew up in areas where train accidents were frequent or widely reported in the media may develop a subconscious link between trains and danger. Similarly, cultural narratives such as superstitions, historical events, and folklores – which encourage fear, loss of control, or tragic train incidents can amplify anxiety around this mode of transport.

On the other hand, in regions where trains are considered a normal, safe, and essential part of daily life, most people situated there are generally more desensitized to the concept of train travel. This shows that fear is not just born from personal experience, as it can also be influenced by social conditioning and collective memory.

Essentially, environmental and cultural cues like media coverage, family attitudes and local accident history, can subtly contribute to the development of , especially when combined with factors like personal vulnerability or prior anxiety issues.

Before any form of treatment can begin, it is important to understand the exact type of condition you are dealing with. Many individuals go about their lives for years with an unexplainable fear of trains, assuming that it is just a random feeling that will fade away with time.

A proper diagnosis, however, helps to clear doubt by clarifying whether the fear is a mild discomfort, a trauma-related reaction, or a full phobic condition that requires structured therapy. Through careful assessment, mental health experts are able to determine the severity of siderodromophobia and design a treatment plan that truly fits the individual’s experience.

The typical diagnosis of siderodromophobia follows the same structured process that mental health professionals use for other specific phobias. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), siderodromophobia is classified as a specific phobia and is therefore triggered by a clearly defined item/situation – in this case, trains or train-travel.

To confirm a diagnosis, mental health professionals often rely on a set of standardized criteria that helps them differentiate a normal sense of unease from an actual anxiety disorder. Here are some of the features they look out for;

• Marked fear or anxiety that is consistently triggered by trains or train-related situations. The reactions often happen immediately after the feared stimulus is introduced.
• Active avoidance of situations that involve trains, such as refusing to board one, changing travel routes, or canceling plans that involve train stations
• Disproportionate Fear: where the level of anxiety exhibited by the individual when triggered is far greater than the actual risk or danger that is posed by the situation
• Persistence over time: When the fear, anxiety, or avoidance behavior lasts above 6 months, it confirms to the expert that the fear is not a temporary reaction
• Significant Impairment to the point where the fear interferes with the person’s daily life, work, education, or social relationships. For example, when a person rejects a great job offer because the only where to get there daily is by taking the train, then such an individual can be confirmed to be exhibiting avoidance behavior to the point where the fear has affected him/her from attaining a set goal/accomplishment

A proper diagnosis also involves ruling out other anxiety disorders, such as agoraphobia or panic disorder, to ensure that the fear is specific to trains rather than being generalized to all forms of transport or crowded spaces.

While a formal diagnosis is always expected to come from a qualified mental health professional, self-assessment tools are great in identifying early signs of siderodromophobia and helping individuals understand whether what they are experiencing is a simple discomfort or something more significant. These tools, however, do not serve as a replacement for clinical evaluation, but are rather used as a starting point for both reflection and awareness.

Most self-assessment methods focus on 3 major areas, which include emotional reactions, physical responses, and behavioral patterns. The details asked in assessment questionnaires typically revolve around these areas.
For instance, some questionnaires may ask how often you;

• Feel tense, dizzy, or short of breath near trains or stations
• Avoid routes, job opportunities, or social plans that involve train travel
• Experience racing thoughts, panic, or an urge to escape when you hear a train approaching
• Have nightmares or intrusive images that are related to trains

Some of the most common self-assessment tools used include:

• Fear Survey Schedule: which helps to measure the intensity of fear across different situations, including transport-related ones.
• Phobia-specific self-rating scales: This scale is an adaptation from the specific phobia inventory, and it is capable of tracking how often and how intensely an individual’s anxiety occurs in response to train-related cues.
• Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) or Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scale (GAD-7): Scales like BAI or GAD-7 are general anxiety scales that help individuals identify the presence of broader anxiety symptoms.
• Behavioral avoidance checklist: This checklist helps to provide a record of much effort that an individual has put into avoiding train environments

The interpretation of these self-assessment tools is quite simple. The higher the frequency, intensity, and avoidance scores, the more likely the person’s fear is beyond normal caution, requiring treatment.

It is important to note that self-assessment tools should always be viewed as a guide, not a verdict. These tools help you determine whether it is time to seek professional help, but they cannot fully capture the emotional depth, personal history, or physiological patterns that a mental health professional can identify. So, if your self-test results show consistent anxiety or avoidance patterns, seek a clinical evaluation.

Living with siderodromophobia goes beyond just avoiding train stations. This fear, when left unattended to, persists and quietly reshapes the daily routines, travel choices, and even relationships of the individual it affects.

Let’s take a closer look at how this fear manifests in practical terms and the subtle ways that it can influence an individual’s day-to-day living.

The fear that comes along with siderodromophobia can be very limiting in terms of travelling and job opportunities – especially in cities where travelling by train is a part of daily living. It is capable of causing avoidance behaviors where individuals living with it avoid applying for job positions that require them to travel by rail or decline promotions that involve frequent business trips. Students with this fear might also choose universities that are far away from train routes, while professionals could spend significantly more time and money to get alternative transport options. Over time, these detours not only cause logistical stress but also affect the individual’s income, career growth, and access to education.

In extreme cases, the avoidance can become so deeply rooted that an individual deliberately structures their entire routine, calendar, and even holiday trips around never encountering a train. This could mean moving to areas without train stations, refusing invitations from friends who live near railway lines, or missing family events that involve train travel.

Ultimately, the constant effort to avoid trains can make everyday decisions feel limiting and exhausting. It also strengthens a cycle of anxiety and dependence on other means of transportation.

The effects of living with siderodromophobia are not confined to mobility restriction alone -this fear can also affect an individual’s social engagements. Individuals with siderodromophobia often find themselves avoiding gatherings, trips, or family events that involve train travel. They, despite their desire to attend, decline invitations to weddings, business conferences, or vacations that require them to take a train route. Even in cases where alternative forms of transport are available, the anticipation of train-related anxiety can lead to last-minute cancellations or excuses.

Additionally, this type of avoidance can create emotional distance between the individual and their social circle. Friends or colleagues who do not understand the condition may perceive the person as unreliable or uninterested, causing them not to associate with him/her.

Living with siderodromophobia can also gradually limit an individual’s emotional stability and strain solid relationships. The constant worry about trains, whether as a result of hearing one approach or simply anticipating train travel, tends to keep the mind and body of an individual in a prolonged state of stress. This tension can lead to irritability, fatigue, and emotional burnout, making it harder for individuals to manage daily tasks or connect meaningfully with other individuals.

Because the toll it takes is more inward than outward, the partners, friends, or family members of an individual with siderodromophobia may struggle to understand the depth of the fear. What looks like stubborn avoidance to them might most likely be an overwhelming emotional reaction that feels uncontrollable to the person experiencing it. Over time, this misunderstanding might cause friction, which results in cancelled plans, communication gaps, and a subtle breakdown of empathy.

Emotionally, individuals may begin to internalize guilt or shame for how their fears affect those around them. In most cases like this, they feel trapped not essentially by the train itself but by the anxiety it causes them. Without intervention, this emotional load can be so weighty that it manifests as depression or generalized anxiety – both of which limit their confidence to seek help or face triggering situations.

Breaking free from siderodromophobia takes much more than willpower alone. It requires the right combination of professional therapeutic support, gradual exposure, and emotional retraining. The goal of siderodromophobia treatment is not to force a person onto a train overnight but to help them unlearn the fear response that their brain has built around train travel.

With the right therapeutic intervention, individuals living with siderodromophobia can actively work towards rebuilding their confidence, regaining control, and eventually travelling without the paralyzing anxiety that once held them back.

The effective treatment of siderodromophobia requires an approach that addresses both the emotional roots of the fear and the physical response that it triggers. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach, there are several evidence-based therapies that have proven highly effective in helping individuals regain their comfort and confidence around train-related situations.

Examples of these methods include:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT is one of the most widely used and scientifically supported treatments for phobias. This therapeutic approach helps individuals to identify and challenge the negative thought patterns that reinforce their fear. Therapists achieve this by setting up structured sessions where they guide their patients to replace their irrational thoughts with more balanced and realistic ones. Over time of having these sessions, the mental reframing process helps to reduce anxiety and change how the brain responds when triggered by any train-related stimuli.

Exposure Therapy
Exposure therapy is one of the most straightforward ways to desensitize a person to their fear. For individuals with siderodromophobia, every time they choose not to take a train, their mind gets encouraged that trains are dangerous, and this only reinforces their fear. Exposure therapy helps to break this cycle by allowing individuals to face their fears in a safe and controlled environment. This therapeutic approach works on the principle that the more safely and frequently you face what you fear, the less power your feared stimuli holds over you.

The process of exposure therapy is gradual and always guided by a trained therapist. It typically starts off with small manageable steps, such as imagining a train ride or looking at train images – and then gradually progresses to more realistic exposure sessions, where they visit a train station, stand near the platform, or actually take a short ride. Every stage of this process is repeated till the point the individual’s anxiety response lessens before progress can be made. The goal is not to rush or overwhelm the individual but to retrain their brain to think of trains as a normal and safe mode of transport.

One of the greatest strengths of exposure therapy is its flexibility. It can be adapted to fit any individual’s specific pace, comfort level, and triggers. In some cases, the exposure therapy sessions may be combined with relaxation techniques or mindfulness practices to help regulate the individual’s anxiety during exposure. Over time of gradual exposures, this structured process helps to change the brain’s fear pathway – replacing the feeling of panic with familiarity and calmness.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)
Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) works with the principle of exposure therapy, but increases its effectiveness by leveraging the immersive power of VR to create virtual simulations of realistic experiences where users can confront their fears and build confidence, under the supervision of a mental health professional.

With the aid of VR headsets, VRET helps therapists to immerse patients in graded simulations of realistic train-related scenarios, such as being at a train station, being inside a moving train, or even watching TV news mentioning the cancellation of trains, allowing mental health providers to effectively treat fear of trains with a gradual control over VR exposure therapy.

Essentially, VRET uses graded practice that safely simulates train situations to help patients with siderodromophobia to build tolerance and emotional control before real-world encounters gradually.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR)
Mindfulness therapy essentially serves to teach individuals strategies that help them stay present and calm during moments of anxiety. Instead of resisting their fear of trains, mindfulness encourages acknowledging its existence without any feeling of judgment.

Examples of these mindfulness strategies include techniques such as deep breathing, grounding exercises, and mindful observation of bodily sensations – all of which help to reduce an individual’s panic during trains or train-related environments. Over time of consistent practice, mindfulness therapy helps to train the mind to respond with awareness instead of fear-driven reactions.

Group or Support Therapy
Simply being around individuals who share your fear of trains or who have been able to break free from it can help to make your recovery feel less isolating. In group therapy, people get to share their experiences, learn coping skills, and draw motivation from each other’s progress. Also, hearing how others have overcome the same fear you are currently experiencing causes an effect that normalizes the struggle and encourages the belief that you can be free from your fear.

Exposure therapy in safe environments helps to reduce fear by creating a condition that encourages the notion of safety, making it possible for the exposures to reduce their fear response over time, reducing avoidance behaviors, building confidence, and restoring the freedom to travel again.

Exposure therapy works to reduce fear by helping the brain to relearn safety through controlled and repeated experiences. When an individual with siderodromophobia is made to confront a train in a safe environment, their body’s fight-or-flight response gradually relearns that there is no actual danger. Over time, this desensitization process helps to lower one’s intensity of fear and anxiety.

In therapy, nothing happens without the person’s consent or readiness. The surroundings are predictable, calm, and carefully managed by the therapist to prevent overwhelming distress. This is important because starting from the videos or pictures of trains to simulated experiences like virtual reality (VR) and finally real-world exposures, every exposure session must reinforce the notion of safety.

It is the combination of gradual exposure and emotional safety that helps the brain to replace its memories of fear with neutral or positive ones. Rather than associating trains or train travel with fear and panic, this process helps their mind to start linking trains with calmness and control.

While exposure therapy helps people to confront their fears safely, CBT takes a step further by working to change how individuals think about trains and what those thoughts make them feel.

Many individuals with siderodromophobia tend to develop distorted thinking patterns, such as believing that something terrible will happen to them when they get on the train, or they will be controlled in front of everyone when they get on the train. CBT helps to identify these fear-driven thought patterns and challenge them with facts, logic, and balanced reasoning. For example, a therapist can help a person with siderodromophobia by guiding the individual to answer questions such as – is the fear realistic? What evidence supports it? What has actually happened in the past when the person saw a train? The answers to these questions help to give a balanced perspective that weakens the emotional power of the fear when practiced over time.

Beyond thought restructuring, CBT also teaches and allows practice of coping strategies such as relaxation techniques, breathing control, and grounding exercises that help people manage their anxiety by maintaining calmness in real-time situations.

Relaxation and breathing techniques play a crucial role in managing the physical symptoms of siderodromophobia. Fear does not just exist in the mind -its effect can also be felt throughout the body. When a person, for example, experiences train-related anxiety, their breathing often becomes shallow, their heart rate spikes, and their muscles tense up. These physiological responses alone can make an individual's fear stronger – this is why controlled relaxation techniques are important. They help to cycle of fear and bring the body to a state of calm.

A great example of these techniques is the deep diaphragmatic breathing, which involves inhaling slowly through the nose such that the abdomen rises and exhaling gently through the mouth. This breathing technique works to activate the body’s parasympathetic nervous system, which naturally counteracts anxiety. The consistent practice of this technique over time can help individuals grounded and in control during times of panic.

There is also the progressive muscle relaxation (PMR) method, which involves consciously tensing and releasing muscle groups from head to toe. This process helps individuals to recognize and release built-in tension that they might have accumulated during moments of fear or panic.

When it is combined with guided imagery, such as a peaceful landscape or a calm train ride, these methods help to train the brain to start associating calmness with situations that previously caused fear. Beyond this, consistent practice of these methods also results in the improvement of long-term emotional regulation. When they are employed before or during train exposure, they help individuals to remain calm, steady, and confident – making the treatment process smooth and the recovery sustainable.

Mindfulness and visualization essentially help people with phobic anxiety to reconnect with the present moment and gradually reframe how their mind perceives train-related fear. Most times, the anxiety in individuals with siderodromophobia is not fueled by the train itself but by anticipation of the eventualities that have been conceived in the individual – the what-ifs that come to mind before and during train travel. Mindfulness practices help to break this cycle, training individuals to be aware of their fears without any judgment.

Rather than resisting their fears, mindfulness exercises such as focusing on one’s breath, body sensations, or sounds in the environment help to keep individuals anchored to the present. This way, they are able to observe, breathe through, and allow their fear to pass without reacting in an impulsive manner.

Visualization takes siderodromophobia recovery a step further by allowing guided imagery exercises, which help individuals to mentally relive safe and calm train journeys. For instance, a visualization exercise can help an individual with a fear of trains to imagine himself or herself sitting comfortably in a train, feeling relaxed, watching scenery go by as the train moves, and arriving safely at the final destination. The repeated practice of visualization exercises like this helps to rewire the brain to associate brain travel with safety and control rather than panic.

Mindfulness and visualization exercises help to create a bridge between the mind and the body that transforms fear into familiarity. When practiced regularly, they don’t just ease anxiety during therapy sessions; they also encourage individuals to face real train travel situations with an increased level of composure and confidence.

Educational materials and online learning
Reputable and trusted mental health organizations like the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), and Mind (UK) help to provide free educational guides, webinars, and articles that provide comprehensive explanations of how specific phobias like develop and how they can be managed. These resources, when utilized, help people recognize that their fear is valid, understandable, and, more importantly, treatable.

There are also helpful books such as “The Anxiety and Phobia Workbook” by Edmund J.Bourne or “Overcoming Specific Phobias” by Martin Antony and Randi McCabe. These books function as structured therapist-approved self-help companions that walk the readers through fear management exercises, exposure steps, and long-term coping plans.

Support groups and Online communities
Joining a community of individuals who share similar fears can be both therapeutic and motivating. For example, the local anxiety support groups that are set up by clinics or wellness centers give the members space to share their journey, including progress, setbacks, and encouragement, in a judgment-free environment.

There are also online platforms such as 7 Cups, Anxiety and Phobia Support on Reddit, or dedicated Facebook groups that allow anonymous peer-to-peer sharing. Engaging with these communities helps you come to the realization that you are not alone and that recovery is entirely possible through consistent effort and support.

Professional Networks and Helplines
If your fear reaches the stage where it becomes too difficult to handle alone, there are resources that can grant you access to professional support via message or call. There are mental health associations such as BetterHelp, Talkspace, and local therapists listed in directories like Psychology Today – that provide licensed professionals who are well-trained in treating specific phobias. For immediate emotional support, there are confidential hotlines like the Samaritans (available 24/7 in the UK and other regions) or the National Helpline of SAMHSA only in the U.S (1-800-622-HELP ) – that can immediately connect you to resources and emergency assistance when your anxiety spikes unexpectedly.

The process of overcoming siderodromophobia becomes easier when you have the right information and support. Educational and support resources help you to understand your fear better, find encouragement from others who have faced similar challenges, and gain access to practical coping tools that help to reinforce your therapeutic journey.

While it may be natural to feel mildly uneasy in train-related situations, there are certain warning signs that indicate that your fear has evolved to a stage where professional help is required. Recognizing these signs early can help prevent the phobia from worsening and interfering with one’s daily life.

One of the most common signs that your fear of trains requires professional support is when you consistently avoid trains or routes that involve them, even when they are the most practical option. When avoidance becomes your default coping mechanism, it signals that your anxiety is controlling your choices rather than you controlling it. Likewise, if the thought of trains or travelling by train triggers panic or physical symptoms such as sweating, heart palpitations, or a strong urge to flee, then the fear is no longer manageable through self-help alone, and professional help is needed.

Additionally, it is a sign to get professional help when your fear of trains starts to impact your career, education, or relationship, causing situations where you refuse a job opportunity, for example, because it involves train travel.

Essentially, when the fear of trains persists for over 6 months, disrupts your normal routine, or feels beyond your control, there is a need to seek the help of a mental health expert. A qualified therapist can help you identify and understand the underlying cause of your phobia, gradually desensitize you to triggers through evidence-based exposure, and help to rebuild your confidence in your ability to travel freely via train.

Finding the right professional is one of the most important steps in overcoming siderodromophobia. Not every therapist is trained to handle specific phobias, so it is important that you search for a professional who understands both anxiety disorders and exposure-based treatments. The right therapist will not only provide structure and guidance, but they will also help you progress at a pace that feels both safe and realistic.

When searching, look out for a licensed clinical psychologist, psychiatrist, or therapist who specializes in anxiety and phobia treatment. Mental health professionals who are trained and certified in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) or Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) are well-renowned for achieving the best phobia recovery. This is because both approaches target both the irrational thought and physical reactions that are tied to the fear, helping to retrain one’s response to trains or train-related stimuli.

It is also important to ask about the therapist’s experience with situational phobias – especially with fears that are related to travel or transportation. A professional who has treated clients with fear of flying, tunnels, or elevators has a wealth of practical knowledge and strategies that can be adapted for the fear of trains. So before committing to a professional, it is advisable to have an initial consultation with the therapist to ask questions about their treatment approach, expected progress, and how they handle setbacks. The consultation also allows you to assess the therapist's communication style, empathy, and how comfortable you feel sharing your fears with them, as trust and rapport play a huge role in treatment success.

You can easily locate qualified professionals through directories such as Psychology Today, the Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA), or your local mental health helpline or hospital department. Lastly, if in-person therapy is not an option, you could consider reputable online therapy platforms or virtual reality (VR)-based platforms like PsyTechVR, which can connect you with a qualified therapist who specializes in treating phobias through immersive exposure exercises.

Above all, it is essential that you feel comfortable and supported throughout your therapeutic journey. The right specialist will move at your pace and make you feel safe enough to face your fears without any pressure or judgment.

Starting therapy for a phobia can feel intimidating at first, but knowing what to expect during your treatment sessions can help to ease anxiety and help you feel more prepared. While each therapist may have their own unique style, every treatment framework generally follows a structured, step-by-step approach that is designed to help you gradually regain control over your fear.

• Initial Assessment and Goal Setting: Your first session typically focuses on understanding your history and specific triggers. The therapist will ask questions about when your fear of trains began, what situations can happen to make it worse, and how it affects your daily life. This stage is crucial for building trust and shaping a personalized treatment plan that is tailored to your unique experience.
• Psychoeducation: After the assessment, the next stage typically involves your therapist giving you a basic understanding of how phobias form and how anxiety works in the body. This is essential because understanding that fear is a natural but exaggerated response can make it easier to separate facts from perception.
• Gradual Exposure and Coping Strategy: In most cases, the next stage after psychoeducation involves sessions of exposure therapy where the therapist helps you gradually confront your fear in safe and controlled steps. You might start by looking at pictures of trains, then listening to train sounds, watching train videos, and eventually visiting a station. Throughout this process, your therapist will help you learn and practice different coping strategies, such as relaxation and mindfulness exercises, that will help you manage your physical reactions while helping your body unlearn its panic response
• Cognitive Restructuring: Alongside the exposures, your therapist will work with you to identify and then reframe negative thought patterns into more balanced perspectives. This has to do more with the cognitive component of CBT that trains your mind to respond more rationally and calmly to fearful thoughts.
• Progress Tracking and Homework: Therapy does not just end when the sessions are over. In between sessions, you will often receive small, achievable assignments that help you practice and keep you progressing in your recovery journey. Also, regular tracking helps to measure your improvement and reinforce the progress made in therapy.
• Gradual Independence: As your fear decreases over the sessions, your therapist will help you gradually transition towards managing your triggers on your own. The goal is not just to reduce fear but to restore confidence and freedom to use the train when needed.

Overall, you should expect every therapy session to move you closer to freedom from fear, training you not only to face trains with calmness but also to apply these same coping tools in other stressful areas of life.

Overcoming a deep-seated fear like siderodromophobia most times requires more than just traditional talk therapy. PsyTechVR, a leading VR platform, serves as a bridge between imagination and real-life exposure by creating immersive, scientifically backed Virtual Reality graded environments. Mental health providers have full control over triggers in VR sessions, providing patients with a safe, immersive, and engaging experience of therapy under professional guidance.

PsyTechVR uses graded exposure therapy within VR to create simulations of realistic train-related scenarios. To start with, Individuals will be immersed in mild exposure scenes, such as standing near a station, and gradually progress to more challenging ones, like boarding a moving train or sitting inside during a journey. This approach helps the brain progressively relearn safety by experiencing these situations without having any actual risk. Over time, with repeated exposures, users’ fear response decreases, and confidence is built for real-world train travel.

One of PsyTechVR’s strengths lies in how easily virtual experiences can be integrated into the treatment process with evidence-based therapy techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), mindfulness, or relaxation therapy. While the CBT techniques help mental health providers to challenge their clients’ irrational beliefs about train travel, mindfulness techniques such as controlled breathing and present-moment awareness are incorporated within VR sessions to help reduce anxiety in real-time exposure. This combination not only helps to rewire fear pathways but also strengthens emotional regulation skills that extend beyond therapy.

PsyTechVR offers mental health professionals an AI tool that lets them create any tailored exposure therapy environment in under 30 seconds. The standard library offers a wide range of different environments, while the AI can help to make a personalized exposure to maximize the efficacy of VR therapy. The therapist doesn’t need technical skills to manage the AI, as the system uses a simple “text-to-exposure” workflow, allowing practitioners to enter a text prompt (for example, “standing beside a moving train at New York’s Central Station”) and AI produces an immersive virtual scenario in the client’s VR device within half a minute. The combination of PsyTechVR’s AI and VR exposure therapy offers real-time control of triggers: a mental health professional can change the words in the prompt and gradually immerse a client in a more challenging exposure environment.

PsyTechVR’s platform flexibility and accessibility stem from its ability to support both therapist-led and self-paced programs. In therapist-guided VR sessions, professionals can monitor the user’s response, adjust exposure intensity, and provide immediate emotional support. This ensures that progress happens safely at a pace that is suited to each individual’s comfort level. PsyTechVR is also well equipped with progress tracking, adaptive feedback, and calming exercises, which help to improve self-improvement between sessions.