Blog - VRET
Immersion Therapy: Transforming Mental Health Care Through Immersive Experiences
By Dr. Melanie Smith, Advisory board member at PsyTech VR
August 4, 2025
PsyTechVR
Since its inception in the 1950s, exposure therapy has been one of the most effective methods for the treatment of mental conditions like trauma, phobias, and anxiety disorders. This method generally involves a process where individuals gradually face their feared situations/memories (stimuli) in a controlled setting to help them develop resilience and reduce their fearful reactions over time.
Initially, exposure therapy was applied using different traditional means, which included mentally visualizing the fear (imaginal exposure), targeting physical sensations associated with panic, such as shortness of breath or increased heart rate (interoceptive exposure), and real-life confrontation of feared stimuli (in-vivo exposure).
The intent behind these practices and why they are repeated over time is to achieve habituation, which is a process where an individual’s anxiety and fear response gradually reduces as a result of being in contact with a feared stimulus consistently. This way, instead of avoidance, patients participating in exposure therapy can learn to withstand their fear, reframe their unhelpful perceptions of it, and learn to more adaptively control their fear-induced reactions. Over time, this approach helps to reduce intense emotional distress and can give individuals a greater sense of control when encountering similar triggers in their everyday lives.
However, despite its proven success, traditional exposure therapy has a major limitation, which is authenticity. This is because it isn’t always safe or possible to recreate the same scenarios or conditions that an individual needs to confront, especially in a clinical setting. This gap is what immersion therapy was developed to fill.
As we continue in this article, we will be looking into the concept of immersion therapy, how it differs from the traditional methods, and how it uses immersive technologies for the treatment of mental conditions.
Initially, exposure therapy was applied using different traditional means, which included mentally visualizing the fear (imaginal exposure), targeting physical sensations associated with panic, such as shortness of breath or increased heart rate (interoceptive exposure), and real-life confrontation of feared stimuli (in-vivo exposure).
The intent behind these practices and why they are repeated over time is to achieve habituation, which is a process where an individual’s anxiety and fear response gradually reduces as a result of being in contact with a feared stimulus consistently. This way, instead of avoidance, patients participating in exposure therapy can learn to withstand their fear, reframe their unhelpful perceptions of it, and learn to more adaptively control their fear-induced reactions. Over time, this approach helps to reduce intense emotional distress and can give individuals a greater sense of control when encountering similar triggers in their everyday lives.
However, despite its proven success, traditional exposure therapy has a major limitation, which is authenticity. This is because it isn’t always safe or possible to recreate the same scenarios or conditions that an individual needs to confront, especially in a clinical setting. This gap is what immersion therapy was developed to fill.
As we continue in this article, we will be looking into the concept of immersion therapy, how it differs from the traditional methods, and how it uses immersive technologies for the treatment of mental conditions.
What is Immersion Therapy?
Understanding the Concept of Immersive Therapy
Immersive therapy, which is also known as immersion therapy, is an advanced treatment method that helps people confront and process their fears by placing them in digitally-generated environments that accurately recreate their feared stimuli both visually and through other sensory inputs. It achieves this by making use of tools like virtual reality (VR) to create life-like scenarios that feel very real and are capable of inducing fear.
The main idea behind immersive therapy is to further improve the therapeutic impact of exposure therapy by fully engaging the patient’s senses and emotions in a controlled setting. Unlike the traditional means, immersive therapy allows for a safe and yet direct interaction with feared stimuli. It also harnesses the power of multisensory engagement, which includes sight, sound, motion, and sometimes even touch, to evoke fear reactions in a digital environment.
What’s more is that these generated environments are easily repeatable, and this reinforces habituation as it allows for consistent exposures, which makes the feared stimulus feel less overwhelming over time. With each session of immersive therapy, the patient builds tolerance, emotional control, and confidence – all of which helps to support long-term recovery.
The main idea behind immersive therapy is to further improve the therapeutic impact of exposure therapy by fully engaging the patient’s senses and emotions in a controlled setting. Unlike the traditional means, immersive therapy allows for a safe and yet direct interaction with feared stimuli. It also harnesses the power of multisensory engagement, which includes sight, sound, motion, and sometimes even touch, to evoke fear reactions in a digital environment.
What’s more is that these generated environments are easily repeatable, and this reinforces habituation as it allows for consistent exposures, which makes the feared stimulus feel less overwhelming over time. With each session of immersive therapy, the patient builds tolerance, emotional control, and confidence – all of which helps to support long-term recovery.
What Is The Difference Between Immersion Therapy And Traditional Approaches?
The difference between immersive therapy and traditional approaches lies mainly in the means through which patients are able to process their feared stimuli. Traditional methods like talk therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) makes use of measures like verbal processing, visualization or imagined scenarios to help patients get in contact with their feelings of distress and then process it while immersive therapy makes use of tools like virtual reality (VR) to create realistic and engaging digital scenarios where patients can directly confront their distressing emotions in a safe and controlled environment.
While the traditional methods are effective, they often rely on the patient’s ability to vividly recall or imagine distressing situations, and this alone can limit how deeply the patients engage with their fears, especially in cases where trauma or anxiety makes those memories emotionally overwhelming to recount. Immersion therapy, on the other hand, completely removes the need for imagination by directly placing patients in multisensory-engaging digital simulations where patients can interact with their fears and practice coping mechanisms in real time.
A good example that illustrates this difference is that instead of asking an individual who is scared of flying to imagine boarding a plane or visualizing an airplane - as it is done in the traditional approaches, immersive therapy, using VR, places the individual in a realistic flight simulation that is complete with engine sounds, ambient noise and even other passengers. This form of exposure feels more immediate as it prompts the brain to respond as though the situation were real, which leads to faster emotional processing and habituation.
Another important difference between these 2 forms of exposure therapy is customization and control. Unlike in traditional methods, where real-life exposures may be difficult to create, repeat, or control, immersive therapy allows for therapists to easily create repeatable digital scenarios that are tailored to their patients’ specific fears or triggers. Immersive therapy also gives the therapists complete control of the generated exposures, which allows them to pause the exposure or make real-time adjustments to the intensity and settings of the virtual environments. This level of flexibility ensures that the intensity of exposures used in immersive therapy is always within the patient’s level of tolerance, which prevents emotional shutdown while still promoting progress.
While the traditional methods are effective, they often rely on the patient’s ability to vividly recall or imagine distressing situations, and this alone can limit how deeply the patients engage with their fears, especially in cases where trauma or anxiety makes those memories emotionally overwhelming to recount. Immersion therapy, on the other hand, completely removes the need for imagination by directly placing patients in multisensory-engaging digital simulations where patients can interact with their fears and practice coping mechanisms in real time.
A good example that illustrates this difference is that instead of asking an individual who is scared of flying to imagine boarding a plane or visualizing an airplane - as it is done in the traditional approaches, immersive therapy, using VR, places the individual in a realistic flight simulation that is complete with engine sounds, ambient noise and even other passengers. This form of exposure feels more immediate as it prompts the brain to respond as though the situation were real, which leads to faster emotional processing and habituation.
Another important difference between these 2 forms of exposure therapy is customization and control. Unlike in traditional methods, where real-life exposures may be difficult to create, repeat, or control, immersive therapy allows for therapists to easily create repeatable digital scenarios that are tailored to their patients’ specific fears or triggers. Immersive therapy also gives the therapists complete control of the generated exposures, which allows them to pause the exposure or make real-time adjustments to the intensity and settings of the virtual environments. This level of flexibility ensures that the intensity of exposures used in immersive therapy is always within the patient’s level of tolerance, which prevents emotional shutdown while still promoting progress.
Types of Immersion Therapy Techniques
As a treatment method that is grounded in exposure-based principles, immersion therapy can be delivered in several forms depending on the tools available and the unique needs of the individual. The primary goal is to fully engage the senses and emotions in a way that allows the individual to interact with the source of their distress or trauma in a realistic but controlled way.
360° Video Immersion
360° video immersion is a method that involves the use of a VR headset or other viewing tools to display spherical video content, which surrounds the user with a triggering scenario that can be viewed from every angle. When watched through a VR headset or in a video immersion setup, the user is able to envision themselves in the environment, although they cannot interact with the elements there because the videos are often pre-recorded. The sense of presence that comes along with being immersed through this approach is capable of evoking the same emotional responses as one would when they are in similar real-life situations.
Virtual Reality (VR) Exposure
Virtual Reality (VR) is one of the most common methods of immersion therapy. VR immersive therapy refers to the use of a VR headset to help place individuals in generated environments that show the exact situation or thing that they fear or struggle with.
The generated environments are viewed through a VR headset, which enhances a strong sense of presence that makes the users feel like they are actually in the scene. Furthermore, these environments engage the visual, auditory, and even spatial sense, making them feel so realistic that they trigger emotional and physiological responses in a completely safe and controlled space.
Augmented Reality Simulations
Augmented Reality (AR) simulations allow for therapeutic exposures by integrating digital elements into the user’s environment in real-time with the aid of tools like smartphones, tablets, or AR headsets. Unlike VR, which fully immerses users in a virtual space, AR overlays 3D graphics that represent triggering objects, or images, and projects them in the user’s physical environment. AR also delivers sound and other sensory information to help create an immersive experience where the user interacts with their actual environment while gradually being exposed to their feared stimuli.
An example of an augmented reality application is when an individual with a fear of fire is introduced to a realistic 3D representation of fire that is projected from a tablet or AR device.
360° Video Immersion
360° video immersion is a method that involves the use of a VR headset or other viewing tools to display spherical video content, which surrounds the user with a triggering scenario that can be viewed from every angle. When watched through a VR headset or in a video immersion setup, the user is able to envision themselves in the environment, although they cannot interact with the elements there because the videos are often pre-recorded. The sense of presence that comes along with being immersed through this approach is capable of evoking the same emotional responses as one would when they are in similar real-life situations.
Virtual Reality (VR) Exposure
Virtual Reality (VR) is one of the most common methods of immersion therapy. VR immersive therapy refers to the use of a VR headset to help place individuals in generated environments that show the exact situation or thing that they fear or struggle with.
The generated environments are viewed through a VR headset, which enhances a strong sense of presence that makes the users feel like they are actually in the scene. Furthermore, these environments engage the visual, auditory, and even spatial sense, making them feel so realistic that they trigger emotional and physiological responses in a completely safe and controlled space.
Augmented Reality Simulations
Augmented Reality (AR) simulations allow for therapeutic exposures by integrating digital elements into the user’s environment in real-time with the aid of tools like smartphones, tablets, or AR headsets. Unlike VR, which fully immerses users in a virtual space, AR overlays 3D graphics that represent triggering objects, or images, and projects them in the user’s physical environment. AR also delivers sound and other sensory information to help create an immersive experience where the user interacts with their actual environment while gradually being exposed to their feared stimuli.
An example of an augmented reality application is when an individual with a fear of fire is introduced to a realistic 3D representation of fire that is projected from a tablet or AR device.
What Is The Importance Of Virtual Reality (VR) In Immersion Therapy?
Aside from being a method itself, Virtual Reality (VR) has quickly become a major tool in immersive therapy as it allows for dynamic and engaging experiences through its ability to create just about any environment or emotional scenario.
Virtual reality is often optimized to support other immersive therapy techniques like immersion 360° to help create a foundation that improves realism, control, and ensures multi-sensory engagement. The way virtual reality works is that it allows triggering exposures by inserting individuals into 3D-generated environments that look and feel exactly like feared stimuli.
These VR environments are customized to meet the unique needs of individual patients, and they can be easily repeated, allowing for the gradual desensitization of their fears. Furthermore, the intensity, pacing, or sensory inputs of these virtual environments can be adjusted in real-time based on the patient’s emotional responses during the therapy session.
Virtual reality is often optimized to support other immersive therapy techniques like immersion 360° to help create a foundation that improves realism, control, and ensures multi-sensory engagement. The way virtual reality works is that it allows triggering exposures by inserting individuals into 3D-generated environments that look and feel exactly like feared stimuli.
These VR environments are customized to meet the unique needs of individual patients, and they can be easily repeated, allowing for the gradual desensitization of their fears. Furthermore, the intensity, pacing, or sensory inputs of these virtual environments can be adjusted in real-time based on the patient’s emotional responses during the therapy session.
What Mental Health Conditions Can Immersion Therapy Treat?
Immersion Therapy for PTSD Treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the mental health conditions where immersive therapy has been proven to have strong effects, especially when delivered through virtual (VR) exposure. Individuals with PTSD typically experience symptoms like flashbacks, hypervigilance, nightmares, and emotional numbness when triggered by their traumatic experience. Now, while the traditional exposure methods may be effective for the reduction of these symptoms, the challenge most patients face is their inability to fully recall or engage mentally with their experiences without having intense emotional distress.
Immersion therapy helps to bridge this gap by allowing for a more direct and easier way of interacting with emotional distress by introducing lifelike simulations of traumatic environments that are specific to each individual’s traumatic exposures. This approach results in faster desensitization not only because it often feels as real as the actual experience; but also because it can be easily repeated. This repetition gives individuals the opportunity to work through their fear and reduce their avoidance behaviors, while restructuring the unhelpful perceptions and thinking patterns they have formed about their traumatic experience with every exposure.
To help prevent intense emotional distress, most immersive therapy forms allow full control of the exposures to the therapist/operator in charge, enabling them to be able to pause, repeat, or adjust the simulations in real-time based on the patient’s emotional response during sessions. When practiced over time, these controlled exposures help the brain to reprocess its traumatic memories and build towards long-term healing.
Immersion therapy helps to bridge this gap by allowing for a more direct and easier way of interacting with emotional distress by introducing lifelike simulations of traumatic environments that are specific to each individual’s traumatic exposures. This approach results in faster desensitization not only because it often feels as real as the actual experience; but also because it can be easily repeated. This repetition gives individuals the opportunity to work through their fear and reduce their avoidance behaviors, while restructuring the unhelpful perceptions and thinking patterns they have formed about their traumatic experience with every exposure.
To help prevent intense emotional distress, most immersive therapy forms allow full control of the exposures to the therapist/operator in charge, enabling them to be able to pause, repeat, or adjust the simulations in real-time based on the patient’s emotional response during sessions. When practiced over time, these controlled exposures help the brain to reprocess its traumatic memories and build towards long-term healing.
Yes, immersive therapy—especially Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET)—can be highly effective for treating PTSD in military personnel and veterans. Unlike traditional therapy that relies heavily on verbal recall, immersive therapy recreates realistic combat environments (like convoys, IED blasts, or ambush scenarios) that allow individuals to confront trauma-related triggers in a safe, controlled setting. This gradual exposure helps to reduce the emotional intensity that the individual might have tied to those memories, improving their emotional processing, and also supporting symptom reduction and long-term recovery.
Using Immersion Therapy for Phobias and Specific Fears
Immersive therapy helps to treat phobias and specific fears by gradually introducing individuals to controlled exposures to the feared scenario or object. Immersive therapy achieves this by creating lifelike virtual simulations that exactly mirror patients’ feared stimuli, causing them to evoke the same emotional and physiological responses without any of the real-world danger.
A good example of immersive therapy’s application for phobias is when an individual with a fear of flying is introduced to gradual exposures of simulations that start with the individual sitting in an airport lounge, then progress to boarding a plane, hearing engine sounds, and then experiencing turbulence. Throughout these gradual progressions, the therapist oversees and provides guidance during the sessions while making real-time adjustments during sessions to ensure emotional safety.
Over time, with consistent repeated exposure to these triggering stimuli, the brain starts to disassociate fear with the situations or things it was once scared of, and the individual starts to build emotional resilience, which reduces his/her anxiety when confronted with a trigger in the actual world.
A good example of immersive therapy’s application for phobias is when an individual with a fear of flying is introduced to gradual exposures of simulations that start with the individual sitting in an airport lounge, then progress to boarding a plane, hearing engine sounds, and then experiencing turbulence. Throughout these gradual progressions, the therapist oversees and provides guidance during the sessions while making real-time adjustments during sessions to ensure emotional safety.
Over time, with consistent repeated exposure to these triggering stimuli, the brain starts to disassociate fear with the situations or things it was once scared of, and the individual starts to build emotional resilience, which reduces his/her anxiety when confronted with a trigger in the actual world.
Treatment of Anxiety Disorders with Immersive Methods
Immersion therapy helps to treat conditions like generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety, and panic-related conditions by simulating distressing situations that evoke emotional reactions in a controlled and low-risk environment.
Just like the case of phobias, these immersive environments are created to meet the unique needs of each individual, making it possible for them to practice emotional regulation in real-time while being present in the exact kinds of situations that trigger their anxiety.
When in session, the multi-sensory engagement of the therapy method helps to increase immersion, and it gives the opportunity for patients to easily observe and challenge their anxious thoughts as they arise when they are being triggered.
With the help of virtual platforms like PsyTechVR, different virtual environments can be created to suit different contexts, and the exposures can be paused, slowed, or repeated as much as needed, providing the opportunity for therapists to guide their patients’ coping skills development in between sessions.
With consistent sessions, personalized immersive therapy helps reduce anxiety symptoms by making the nervous system become more tolerant of stress, and this leads to reduced avoidance behavior and improved confidence in the individual’s day-to-day life.
Just like the case of phobias, these immersive environments are created to meet the unique needs of each individual, making it possible for them to practice emotional regulation in real-time while being present in the exact kinds of situations that trigger their anxiety.
When in session, the multi-sensory engagement of the therapy method helps to increase immersion, and it gives the opportunity for patients to easily observe and challenge their anxious thoughts as they arise when they are being triggered.
With the help of virtual platforms like PsyTechVR, different virtual environments can be created to suit different contexts, and the exposures can be paused, slowed, or repeated as much as needed, providing the opportunity for therapists to guide their patients’ coping skills development in between sessions.
With consistent sessions, personalized immersive therapy helps reduce anxiety symptoms by making the nervous system become more tolerant of stress, and this leads to reduced avoidance behavior and improved confidence in the individual’s day-to-day life.
Emerging Applications: Depression, Addiction, and OCD
In recent times, the use of immersion therapy has evolved in the treatment of more complex mental conditions such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), depression, and addiction. Immersion therapy techniques like virtual reality (VR) exposures and 360° video immersions are used to support therapy by creating engaging environments that help to promote behavioral activation and the practice of healthier responses to triggers.
In the case of depression, for instance, the 360° video immersion technique may be used to create a highly-engaging environment which helps to encourage the individual to participate in meaningful activities which include going for a virtual walk in nature, attending a social gathering, or even meditating. These coordinated exposures, when applied, are capable of helping people to break their cycles of withdrawal and low motivation, both of which are common in depressive states.
For individuals struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), research has shown that immersion tools like virtual reality can be used to create exposures that simulate obsession-triggering cues in a gradual and safe environment. When these individuals are introduced to these exposures gradually, they begin to build the fortitude to ignore and disengage from intrusive thoughts and resist the urge to engage in compulsive behaviors. They also learn to build a sense of control and safety, which helps to foster long-term recovery.
For addiction, immersive therapy helps facilitate treatment progress by recreating personalized environments like parties or stress-filled environments, which allows individuals with substance use disorders to practice refusal skills or emotional regulation techniques like mindful awareness or emotion naming, when confronted with their cravings, all without any real-world danger.
In the case of depression, for instance, the 360° video immersion technique may be used to create a highly-engaging environment which helps to encourage the individual to participate in meaningful activities which include going for a virtual walk in nature, attending a social gathering, or even meditating. These coordinated exposures, when applied, are capable of helping people to break their cycles of withdrawal and low motivation, both of which are common in depressive states.
For individuals struggling with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), research has shown that immersion tools like virtual reality can be used to create exposures that simulate obsession-triggering cues in a gradual and safe environment. When these individuals are introduced to these exposures gradually, they begin to build the fortitude to ignore and disengage from intrusive thoughts and resist the urge to engage in compulsive behaviors. They also learn to build a sense of control and safety, which helps to foster long-term recovery.
For addiction, immersive therapy helps facilitate treatment progress by recreating personalized environments like parties or stress-filled environments, which allows individuals with substance use disorders to practice refusal skills or emotional regulation techniques like mindful awareness or emotion naming, when confronted with their cravings, all without any real-world danger.
Why Is Immersion Therapy Effective?
The Role of Controlled Exposure in Immersive Environments
Immersion therapy at its core is guided by the principle of controlled exposure. The knowledge of this principle helps to inform every action that is taken in every successful treatment course, which results in the desensitization of fear and eventually long-term recovery.
What Is Controlled Exposure?
Controlled exposure refers to a process that involves gradually placing individuals in contact with the thing or setting they fear or find emotionally triggering in a safe way with the aim of managing or reducing the level of their fear.
In the context of immersive therapy, controlled exposures involve the multi-sensory (both visual and sound) immersion of individuals in realistic but safe virtual scenarios that mimic the precise source of an individual’s distress, for the purpose of desensitization.
One of the major things that makes this factor very important is its ability to allow modifications of every aspect of the exposure, some of which includes the intensity of the feared stimuli, the pacing of the session, and even the sounds of the scenario.
This level of control helps therapists to safely increase the intensity of the projected environments while keeping the experience within their patients’ window of tolerance.
For example, an individual with social anxiety can start immersive therapy exposures with simulations of a quiet virtual café and then progress to a busy shopping mall or other environments like meetings or parties, while practicing real-time coping strategies.
What Is Controlled Exposure?
Controlled exposure refers to a process that involves gradually placing individuals in contact with the thing or setting they fear or find emotionally triggering in a safe way with the aim of managing or reducing the level of their fear.
In the context of immersive therapy, controlled exposures involve the multi-sensory (both visual and sound) immersion of individuals in realistic but safe virtual scenarios that mimic the precise source of an individual’s distress, for the purpose of desensitization.
One of the major things that makes this factor very important is its ability to allow modifications of every aspect of the exposure, some of which includes the intensity of the feared stimuli, the pacing of the session, and even the sounds of the scenario.
This level of control helps therapists to safely increase the intensity of the projected environments while keeping the experience within their patients’ window of tolerance.
For example, an individual with social anxiety can start immersive therapy exposures with simulations of a quiet virtual café and then progress to a busy shopping mall or other environments like meetings or parties, while practicing real-time coping strategies.
How Immersion Enhances Emotional Processing and Desensitization
When individuals find themselves in immersive environments that replicate or project the situations they avoid or are scared of, their emotional and physiological responses get activated in real-time, and this creates an opportunity where these reactions and emotions can be identified, engaged with, and improved upon.
This is primarily because the brain responds the same way when in an actual triggering environment and a VR-created environment. As a result, immersive therapy brings about direct engagement with distressing emotions, which helps individuals process their emotions faster and more efficiently.
The first thing that happens after gradual, repeated exposures is that the nervous system begins to recalibrate and become more calm in triggering situations. Also, the brain starts to understand that the previously feared stimulus is not as scary or harmful as it previously thought it was. Consequently, due to these changes, the intensity of the emotional reactions/responses that were previously felt starts to reduce over time through desensitization.
Additionally, the combination of realism and control that was associated with the VR environments helps to provide the psychological safety that is required to adequately process their reactions. When individuals understand that they are in a safe and controlled space, they tend to let down their protective guard and express themselves more freely, and this helps to promote adaptive processing rather than avoidance or overwhelm.
This is primarily because the brain responds the same way when in an actual triggering environment and a VR-created environment. As a result, immersive therapy brings about direct engagement with distressing emotions, which helps individuals process their emotions faster and more efficiently.
The first thing that happens after gradual, repeated exposures is that the nervous system begins to recalibrate and become more calm in triggering situations. Also, the brain starts to understand that the previously feared stimulus is not as scary or harmful as it previously thought it was. Consequently, due to these changes, the intensity of the emotional reactions/responses that were previously felt starts to reduce over time through desensitization.
Additionally, the combination of realism and control that was associated with the VR environments helps to provide the psychological safety that is required to adequately process their reactions. When individuals understand that they are in a safe and controlled space, they tend to let down their protective guard and express themselves more freely, and this helps to promote adaptive processing rather than avoidance or overwhelm.
Why Are Personalization and Realism Important In Immersion Therapy?
Personalization can be described as the process of modifying the created scenario to suit the individual’s unique experience and needs. This involves selecting the main setting, adjusting the visual cues, level of interaction per exposure, and background sounds – all in an effort to make sure the scenario looks and feels familiar enough to trigger a natural reaction.
Realism is another direct factor that affects the effectiveness of any form of immersive therapeutic treatment. The more accurately a virtual or simulated scenario mimics or reflects the real-life experience of a patient, the greater the chances of the patient experiencing the emotional and physiological responses that need to be assessed.
The reason is simple – the brain responds better to stimuli that feel personally relevant. This involves ensuring that the graphics, sounds, avatar behavior, and responsive scene collectively help to create and maintain a sense of presence, which is important for emotional engagement. When a created scenario reflects an individual’s fear or traumatic experience, genuine reactions are evoked, allowing for processing and therapeutic progress to be made.
However, it is important to note that the consideration of these two factors when creating environments does not necessarily mean perfection. The goal here is to integrate enough sensory and emotional detail, which helps to convince the brain that it is in the situation it fears.
Realism is another direct factor that affects the effectiveness of any form of immersive therapeutic treatment. The more accurately a virtual or simulated scenario mimics or reflects the real-life experience of a patient, the greater the chances of the patient experiencing the emotional and physiological responses that need to be assessed.
The reason is simple – the brain responds better to stimuli that feel personally relevant. This involves ensuring that the graphics, sounds, avatar behavior, and responsive scene collectively help to create and maintain a sense of presence, which is important for emotional engagement. When a created scenario reflects an individual’s fear or traumatic experience, genuine reactions are evoked, allowing for processing and therapeutic progress to be made.
However, it is important to note that the consideration of these two factors when creating environments does not necessarily mean perfection. The goal here is to integrate enough sensory and emotional detail, which helps to convince the brain that it is in the situation it fears.
What Research Supports Immersion Therapy?
While immersion therapy is a relatively new treatment approach, its effectiveness is not only theoretical. The different applications of immersive therapy are backed up by research, which supports its use in the treatment of a broad range of mental conditions.
What Do Studies Say About Immersion Therapy’s Effectiveness?
Several clinical studies and controlled trials have been conducted to confirm the effectiveness of immersive therapy in the reduction of mental conditions like anxiety, phobia severity, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. For example, a randomized controlled trial that was conducted in 2025, helped to show that immersive 360° video-based VR therapy is an effective enhancement to standard rehabilitation programs for veterans who were experiencing anxiety and depression. The 69 participants of the study were randomly assigned either to the experimental group (n=34) to receive daily VR sessions alongside the standard rehabilitation or to the control group (n=35) to receive only standard rehabilitation. The results of the trials reflected a 14.5% general reduction in anxiety and a 12.3% general reduction in depression after the program was complete.
There was also a study that evaluated the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) for PTSD symptoms and identified the potential moderating variables that were associated with interventions. The results eventually showed a significant reduction of PTSD symptoms in the virtual therapy group when it was compared to the inactive groups, where no intervention was made. These studies help to solidly validate immersion therapy as an effective treatment for mental conditions.
There was also a study that evaluated the efficacy of virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) for PTSD symptoms and identified the potential moderating variables that were associated with interventions. The results eventually showed a significant reduction of PTSD symptoms in the virtual therapy group when it was compared to the inactive groups, where no intervention was made. These studies help to solidly validate immersion therapy as an effective treatment for mental conditions.
Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Immersion Therapy
The increasing interest of individuals in immersive technologies for mental healthcare has resulted in a number of systematic reviews and analyses that examine the effectiveness of several immersive methods.
A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of virtual and augmented reality exposure therapy in the treatment of Post-traumatic stress disorder. The research methods used in this study included a systematic electronic database search and 2 meta-analyses. The review included 11 studies (n=438) which showed the effectiveness of VRET as a type of PTSD treatment. However, no study on augmented reality was found. The meta-analyses showed that VRET outweighed the wait-list control, while no significant difference was found between VRET and active treatment conditions. (standardized mean difference -0.25)
Another meta-analysis was conducted in 2025 to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive VR-based treatment for mental disorders. The analysis involved a search across 2443 studies and 3031 total participants. 55 studies in the search involved a total of 10 mental disorders that affected an individual’s cognitive function and general quality of life. The VR interventions showed significant post-treatment effects when compared to other active control methods for conditions like alcohol use disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and psychotic symptoms. It was eventually concluded that VR interventions have shown benefits when compared to a passive control condition; however, the evidence necessitates more large-scale studies.
A systematic review was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of virtual and augmented reality exposure therapy in the treatment of Post-traumatic stress disorder. The research methods used in this study included a systematic electronic database search and 2 meta-analyses. The review included 11 studies (n=438) which showed the effectiveness of VRET as a type of PTSD treatment. However, no study on augmented reality was found. The meta-analyses showed that VRET outweighed the wait-list control, while no significant difference was found between VRET and active treatment conditions. (standardized mean difference -0.25)
Another meta-analysis was conducted in 2025 to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive VR-based treatment for mental disorders. The analysis involved a search across 2443 studies and 3031 total participants. 55 studies in the search involved a total of 10 mental disorders that affected an individual’s cognitive function and general quality of life. The VR interventions showed significant post-treatment effects when compared to other active control methods for conditions like alcohol use disorder, schizophrenia spectrum disorders, and psychotic symptoms. It was eventually concluded that VR interventions have shown benefits when compared to a passive control condition; however, the evidence necessitates more large-scale studies.
Key Findings on the Efficacy of Immersive Mental Health Interventions
The major theme consistent with immersive mental health therapies is that virtual and augmented environments trigger real emotional and physiological responses. From research, it is clear that:
- Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is a clinically effective treatment approach for PTSD: Several trials and meta-analyses show that VRET is not only effective for treating anxiety or PTSD, but it often matches or exceeds the effect of traditional exposure therapy.
- Immersion helps to drive emotional engagement and desensitization: A review once showed that when patients are immersed in virtual scenarios, the result showed stronger fear reduction and more meaningful engagement, which makes the process of desensitization more effective when compared to traditional therapy methods.
- Immersive therapy helps to reduce avoidance and dropout rates by offering a safer and engaging way to confront their fears. Studies have depicted that patients are more likely to stay committed to therapeutic programs that meet their needs.
How Does Immersion Therapy Work?
Structure of Immersive Therapy Sessions
The delivery of immersive therapy usually follows a structured process that is similar to traditional psychotherapy. It usually starts out with an evaluation and assessment session where the therapist gets to assess their patient’s recent stressors, current symptoms, and emotional readiness. The therapist also explains the aim of the therapy, which could be confronting a specific fear or practicing a calming technique. In some cases, baseline psychological data such as heart rate are recorded in order to track how the patient responds during the session.
Afterwards, the patient is gradually introduced to the created environments to start the exposures. These exposures are usually graded starting from mild exposures at first and then progressing to more difficult exposures as the patient's confidence increases. During these sessions, therapists monitor the patient’s verbal and non-verbal cues, such as body language or breath changes, to make sure that the exposure sessions remain therapeutic and not harmful. Also, throughout this phase, the therapist remains in control of the exposures and is able to make real-time changes like pausing the exposures, adjusting the pace, or reducing the exposure’s difficulty, if there is a need for it.
After the exposure, the session shifts into an investigative phase where the emotions evoked are processed and coping strategies are improved with the therapist’s support. The therapist may also help the patient link the insights gained from the sessions to real-world situations, and this further strengthens the notion that progress made in virtual environments can be used in reality.
Afterwards, the patient is gradually introduced to the created environments to start the exposures. These exposures are usually graded starting from mild exposures at first and then progressing to more difficult exposures as the patient's confidence increases. During these sessions, therapists monitor the patient’s verbal and non-verbal cues, such as body language or breath changes, to make sure that the exposure sessions remain therapeutic and not harmful. Also, throughout this phase, the therapist remains in control of the exposures and is able to make real-time changes like pausing the exposures, adjusting the pace, or reducing the exposure’s difficulty, if there is a need for it.
After the exposure, the session shifts into an investigative phase where the emotions evoked are processed and coping strategies are improved with the therapist’s support. The therapist may also help the patient link the insights gained from the sessions to real-world situations, and this further strengthens the notion that progress made in virtual environments can be used in reality.
Technologies Enabling Immersion: VR, AR, and Simulated Environments
Virtual Reality (VR)
The use of VR headsets during immersive therapy helps to completely block out every real-world sensation and replaces it with a 3D multisensory-engaging environment. High-quality VR systems like Meta Quest, HTC Vive, or Pico 4 make it possible for patients to look around the virtual environment, move around the scene, and even interact with virtual elements in real-time.
The combination of these systems and VR platforms like PsyTechVR helps to provide immersive therapy that is useful for the treatment of mental conditions like PTSD and anxiety disorders.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Unlike virtual reality (VR) that completely replaces the real world, augmented reality (AR) helps to create triggering scenarios by adding virtual elements onto it. An example of an AR scenario can be described when a virtual 3D spider projected from an AR device is projected onto a wall to trigger an individual with arachnophobia.
Essentially, AR technology is good for integrating therapy into an individual’s everyday environments, making it possible for patients to practice coping skills in familiar environments without having to leave their homes. Examples of AR devices include smart glasses, tablets, or phones, which makes it a great means of practicing immersive therapy for the treatment of conditions like phobias, social anxiety, OCD, or addictions.
Simulated Environments
Simulated environments are digitally created spaces that mimic real-world or imagined scenarios. These environments, unlike virtual reality, can be delivered through common everyday devices like desktop monitors, tablets, or projection systems, which makes them more accessible.
The practice of using simulated environments for immersive therapy is commonly adopted at clinics or educational therapy settings where a complete sensory immersion is not necessary and both visual and situational exposures are considered beneficial enough.
The use of VR headsets during immersive therapy helps to completely block out every real-world sensation and replaces it with a 3D multisensory-engaging environment. High-quality VR systems like Meta Quest, HTC Vive, or Pico 4 make it possible for patients to look around the virtual environment, move around the scene, and even interact with virtual elements in real-time.
The combination of these systems and VR platforms like PsyTechVR helps to provide immersive therapy that is useful for the treatment of mental conditions like PTSD and anxiety disorders.
Augmented Reality (AR)
Unlike virtual reality (VR) that completely replaces the real world, augmented reality (AR) helps to create triggering scenarios by adding virtual elements onto it. An example of an AR scenario can be described when a virtual 3D spider projected from an AR device is projected onto a wall to trigger an individual with arachnophobia.
Essentially, AR technology is good for integrating therapy into an individual’s everyday environments, making it possible for patients to practice coping skills in familiar environments without having to leave their homes. Examples of AR devices include smart glasses, tablets, or phones, which makes it a great means of practicing immersive therapy for the treatment of conditions like phobias, social anxiety, OCD, or addictions.
Simulated Environments
Simulated environments are digitally created spaces that mimic real-world or imagined scenarios. These environments, unlike virtual reality, can be delivered through common everyday devices like desktop monitors, tablets, or projection systems, which makes them more accessible.
The practice of using simulated environments for immersive therapy is commonly adopted at clinics or educational therapy settings where a complete sensory immersion is not necessary and both visual and situational exposures are considered beneficial enough.
Role of Professional Therapists in Guiding Immersion Therapy
Professional therapists are a huge determinant in the success of any form of exposure therapy because they are responsible for facilitating every step involved in the treatment process.
Designing Of Virtual Exposure
Therapists typically start out by carrying out an assessment to determine their patients’ symptoms, goals, and emotional readiness for immersion therapy. The information obtained from this assessment helps the therapist to make an informed decision in the selection of immersive technology like AR and VR. It also helps the therapist to create and tailor the generated scenario to suit the unique needs of the patient.
Provide Support During Exposures
During the sessions, therapists help to monitor their patients’ emotional reactions and make adjustments to the exposure settings whenever it's needed. They also help to teach and encourage individuals to practice emotional regulation skills like deep breathing, cognitive reappraisal, and mindfulness exercises, which could be applied in triggering scenarios.
Helps In Emotional Processing
After the exposure, therapists engage their patients to help them properly process the emotions that they experienced. At this stage, they may go over the patient’s emotional breakthroughs, moments of progress, or unexpected triggers and then use the insight they derive to guide their future sessions. The therapists may also assign home practice tasks or prepare their patients for subsequent exposure sessions.
Build Trust
Immersive exposure therapy typically involves a process where patients exhibit symptoms of distress that even they themselves may find embarrassing. This is why it is important that the therapist creates a safe, non-judgmental space where the patient feels supported throughout the treatment process.
Designing Of Virtual Exposure
Therapists typically start out by carrying out an assessment to determine their patients’ symptoms, goals, and emotional readiness for immersion therapy. The information obtained from this assessment helps the therapist to make an informed decision in the selection of immersive technology like AR and VR. It also helps the therapist to create and tailor the generated scenario to suit the unique needs of the patient.
Provide Support During Exposures
During the sessions, therapists help to monitor their patients’ emotional reactions and make adjustments to the exposure settings whenever it's needed. They also help to teach and encourage individuals to practice emotional regulation skills like deep breathing, cognitive reappraisal, and mindfulness exercises, which could be applied in triggering scenarios.
Helps In Emotional Processing
After the exposure, therapists engage their patients to help them properly process the emotions that they experienced. At this stage, they may go over the patient’s emotional breakthroughs, moments of progress, or unexpected triggers and then use the insight they derive to guide their future sessions. The therapists may also assign home practice tasks or prepare their patients for subsequent exposure sessions.
Build Trust
Immersive exposure therapy typically involves a process where patients exhibit symptoms of distress that even they themselves may find embarrassing. This is why it is important that the therapist creates a safe, non-judgmental space where the patient feels supported throughout the treatment process.
What Are the Benefits of Immersion Therapy?
Faster Treatment Progress Through Direct Exposure
Immersion therapy helps individuals to directly face their fears in a more immediate and effective way than traditional talk therapy. It helps to remove the stress that comes with trying to picture a feared stimulus by providing a virtual scenario that shows the fear and is realistic enough for the brain to react, just as it would in the real world. This often results in quicker desensitization and a reduction in the symptoms of fear and distress after fewer therapy sessions. For instance, an individual with a fear of flying can easily practice being calm during flights with the aid of a simulation that mimics a flying plane instead of spending weeks to visualize being in a plane.
Reduced Anxiety and Avoidance Behavior
Despite the fact that immersive exposures evoke the same reactions as in-vivo exposures; immersive therapy presents as a better treatment option for reduced anxiety and avoidance. This is because when individuals participate in immersive exposures they can easily face their triggers and fears with the added advantage of being in a safe and controlled environment, allowing the nervous system to experience the emotion without the fear of any real danger. These exposures, when done gradually and repeatedly, help the brain to get comfortable with the emotions that arise when triggered and then understand that the scenario is not as scary or threatening as they once believed it to be.
Increased Patient Engagement and Motivation
The traditional exposure methods, while effective, can feel difficult and uneventful, especially for individuals who struggle to visualize or maintain an emotional connection to imagined fear. However, with immersive environments, patients no longer have to think about their fears. Rather, they are interacting with them in real-time.
This is because immersion therapy allows patients to see, hear, and even move within virtual scenarios that realistically mimic their real-world fears. This increased sense of presence allows for deeper emotional involvement while also serving as a strong encouragement to follow through with their treatment.
Additionally, the specificity in the customization of virtual scenarios helps to create a sense of personal relevance. When virtual environments are tailored to meet the unique traumas or fears of certain individuals, it helps those people to consistently show up, stay engaged, and push through difficult moments during their treatment.
This is because immersion therapy allows patients to see, hear, and even move within virtual scenarios that realistically mimic their real-world fears. This increased sense of presence allows for deeper emotional involvement while also serving as a strong encouragement to follow through with their treatment.
Additionally, the specificity in the customization of virtual scenarios helps to create a sense of personal relevance. When virtual environments are tailored to meet the unique traumas or fears of certain individuals, it helps those people to consistently show up, stay engaged, and push through difficult moments during their treatment.
What Are the Limitations and Considerations?
Potential Challenges in Implementation
Despite the effectiveness of immersion therapy, there are certain factors that limit its wide usage, one of them being the high initial setup cost.
High Initial Cost
Immersive therapy makes use of technological devices like VR headsets, sensors, and custom-built simulations - all of which can be expensive to purchase and maintain. This high cost is one of the major factors that limit the adoption of immersion therapy to well-funded hospitals or research-backed clinics, while smaller setups may find it unaffordable and therefore impossible to purchase. However, as the technology evolves the costs associated with the purchase of the VR headsets as well as the VRET software are becoming more affordable over time.
Lack of Technical Know-how
With immersion therapy, there is also a need for technical know-how, especially from the therapists. It is important for therapists that intend to use immersive technologies like VR or AR, to understand the entire operational aspect of the setup, including how to customize scenarios, how to pause, play & repeat, how to monitor their patient’s responses and how to troubleshoot the system in events of damage or interruptions. Acquiring these skills is not only time-consuming, but may be stressful to comprehend. For this reason, It is highly encouraged to engage with a VRET vendor, such as PsyTech VR that will provide assistance with technical support and onboarding.
Lack Of Resources
There is also a lack of resources in certain areas. Examples of this include rural areas where infrastructures like strong internet or tech support, which are required to support immersion therapy, are lacking. This type of setting can make the treatment more difficult to deploy, even if the area is where it is needed the most.
High Initial Cost
Immersive therapy makes use of technological devices like VR headsets, sensors, and custom-built simulations - all of which can be expensive to purchase and maintain. This high cost is one of the major factors that limit the adoption of immersion therapy to well-funded hospitals or research-backed clinics, while smaller setups may find it unaffordable and therefore impossible to purchase. However, as the technology evolves the costs associated with the purchase of the VR headsets as well as the VRET software are becoming more affordable over time.
Lack of Technical Know-how
With immersion therapy, there is also a need for technical know-how, especially from the therapists. It is important for therapists that intend to use immersive technologies like VR or AR, to understand the entire operational aspect of the setup, including how to customize scenarios, how to pause, play & repeat, how to monitor their patient’s responses and how to troubleshoot the system in events of damage or interruptions. Acquiring these skills is not only time-consuming, but may be stressful to comprehend. For this reason, It is highly encouraged to engage with a VRET vendor, such as PsyTech VR that will provide assistance with technical support and onboarding.
Lack Of Resources
There is also a lack of resources in certain areas. Examples of this include rural areas where infrastructures like strong internet or tech support, which are required to support immersion therapy, are lacking. This type of setting can make the treatment more difficult to deploy, even if the area is where it is needed the most.
Individual Differences in Response to Immersion
People respond to immersive therapy treatments in different ways. While some individuals engage fully and benefit from the generated exposure’s realism, there are also certain people who experience disorientation, intense emotional distress, and even physical discomfort during sessions.
For example, individuals with neurological or psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia or sensory processing issues might find the visuals and sounds of virtual environments to be confusing and do more harm than good unless the exposures are carefully modified or avoided altogether.
Aside from this, there are some individuals who are not psychologically ready to face their fear in such a realistic and direct way, despite the fact that the environment is virtual and completely safe. When this category of people is immersed in triggering situations, their anxiety levels surge, and in most cases, they opt out of the treatment early.
This is why it is important to always assess every individual who wants to start immersion therapy for suitability, not just in terms of diagnosis but also emotional state and tech comfort. Factors like age, tech literacy, and personal preferences are great indicators to help determine how willing and capable individuals are to engage with immersive therapy tools.
For example, individuals with neurological or psychiatric conditions like schizophrenia or sensory processing issues might find the visuals and sounds of virtual environments to be confusing and do more harm than good unless the exposures are carefully modified or avoided altogether.
Aside from this, there are some individuals who are not psychologically ready to face their fear in such a realistic and direct way, despite the fact that the environment is virtual and completely safe. When this category of people is immersed in triggering situations, their anxiety levels surge, and in most cases, they opt out of the treatment early.
This is why it is important to always assess every individual who wants to start immersion therapy for suitability, not just in terms of diagnosis but also emotional state and tech comfort. Factors like age, tech literacy, and personal preferences are great indicators to help determine how willing and capable individuals are to engage with immersive therapy tools.
Ethical and Safety Considerations in Immersive Therapy
Immersion therapy evokes the same emotional reactions as they would when confronted in the actual world, and because the emotional vulnerability is just as real, there are certain ethical responsibilities that need to be considered.
Emotional Safety
One major consideration is emotional safety. Immersion can result in re-traumatization when there is no proper pacing or professional supervision available. Scenarios that are too intense or are introduced too early can trigger panic, dissociation, or emotional shutdown.
This is why it is important that immersion therapy must always be delivered by a qualified professional. A trained mental health professional helps to monitor patients' responses during exposures while regulating the intensity and ensuring grounding techniques are used when they are needed.
Data Protection
Another factor to consider is data privacy and digital ethics. There are some immersive therapy platforms that collect sensitive biometric or psychological data of their users, and this data is confidential. To safeguard their patients’ data confidentiality and trust, it is important that these platforms and the therapists that are using the technology are compliant with privacy laws like HIPAA (for those in the United States) or GDPR (for platforms in the European Union and the European Economic Area), which are designed to ensure that healthcare workers protect their patients’ personal data.
Consent
There is also the issue of informed consent. It is important for therapists to help patients understand that while immersion therapy is effective, the sessions also come along with the patient experiencing emotional discomfort. The aim behind this is to ensure that the patient feels safe, respected, and in control throughout the process of treatment. The patient’s consent must be given voluntarily after all the questions he/she may ask have been answered by the therapist.
Emotional Safety
One major consideration is emotional safety. Immersion can result in re-traumatization when there is no proper pacing or professional supervision available. Scenarios that are too intense or are introduced too early can trigger panic, dissociation, or emotional shutdown.
This is why it is important that immersion therapy must always be delivered by a qualified professional. A trained mental health professional helps to monitor patients' responses during exposures while regulating the intensity and ensuring grounding techniques are used when they are needed.
Data Protection
Another factor to consider is data privacy and digital ethics. There are some immersive therapy platforms that collect sensitive biometric or psychological data of their users, and this data is confidential. To safeguard their patients’ data confidentiality and trust, it is important that these platforms and the therapists that are using the technology are compliant with privacy laws like HIPAA (for those in the United States) or GDPR (for platforms in the European Union and the European Economic Area), which are designed to ensure that healthcare workers protect their patients’ personal data.
Consent
There is also the issue of informed consent. It is important for therapists to help patients understand that while immersion therapy is effective, the sessions also come along with the patient experiencing emotional discomfort. The aim behind this is to ensure that the patient feels safe, respected, and in control throughout the process of treatment. The patient’s consent must be given voluntarily after all the questions he/she may ask have been answered by the therapist.
Accessing Immersion Therapy: What Patients Need to Know
How to Find Qualified Immersion Therapy Providers
Understanding the crucial role of the therapist in the process of immersion therapy, it is important that you know what you are looking for when choosing the right therapy provider.
You can start off by narrowing your search to mental health professionals who are experienced in exposure-based treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), trauma-focused therapy, or anxiety/phobia treatment. These are the therapists who are most likely to incorporate the immersive technologies effectively.
Afterwards, you want to specially seek out therapists that are certified or trained in the usage of immersive technologies like VR or AR in clinical settings. This could include therapists who have been trained by continuing education programs, clinical trials, or partnerships with immersive therapy platforms such as PsyTechVR. Finally, you want to select a therapist who prioritizes patient communication and is compliant with carrying out all the ethical responsibilities that are associated with the job.
You can start off by narrowing your search to mental health professionals who are experienced in exposure-based treatments like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), trauma-focused therapy, or anxiety/phobia treatment. These are the therapists who are most likely to incorporate the immersive technologies effectively.
Afterwards, you want to specially seek out therapists that are certified or trained in the usage of immersive technologies like VR or AR in clinical settings. This could include therapists who have been trained by continuing education programs, clinical trials, or partnerships with immersive therapy platforms such as PsyTechVR. Finally, you want to select a therapist who prioritizes patient communication and is compliant with carrying out all the ethical responsibilities that are associated with the job.
Availability of Immersion Therapy Programs
While immersive therapy is getting more prominent, it is not easily accessible in certain locations. This is mainly dependent on one's location, resources, and condition.
For instance, in major cities or areas that are close to academic medical centers and mental health innovation hubs, immersive therapy treatment centers are likely to be found at:
For instance, in major cities or areas that are close to academic medical centers and mental health innovation hubs, immersive therapy treatment centers are likely to be found at:
- University psychological departments that are using immersive therapy forms like Virtual Reality exposure therapy (VRET) for research purposes.
- Hospital-based outpatient programs that integrated VR for the treatment of several mental health conditions.
- Private therapy practice
- Digital health startups
Costs, Insurance, and Accessibility Factors
One of the major factors that limits the usage of immersive therapy forms is the cost. This is because immersion therapy involves the use of advanced technologies like virtual reality (VR) headsets, biometric sensors, and specialized VR platforms. A single VR therapy session might cost between $150-$350, depending on the type of equipment being used, whether the therapy is delivered in-person or remotely, and the duration of the session.
Also, because certain countries still see immersive therapy as a relatively new treatment method, it is not always covered by insurance. To be sure, you can always ask the provider whether the treatment is billed from insurance directly or if it is self-pay.
There is also the limitation of access. There are certain individuals who are not able to access VR therapy due to factors which include:
Also, because certain countries still see immersive therapy as a relatively new treatment method, it is not always covered by insurance. To be sure, you can always ask the provider whether the treatment is billed from insurance directly or if it is self-pay.
There is also the limitation of access. There are certain individuals who are not able to access VR therapy due to factors which include:
- Tech Literacy: Not everyone is comfortable with setting up or navigating VR headsets or apps
- Mobility/Sensory Limitations: Individuals with balance issues, vestibular issues, or visual/hearing impairment or neurological sensitivities may be unable to fully engage with immersive environments except when certain modifications are made to it.
- Hardware Access: Specialized devices like VR headsets can be expensive and not everyone has access to own them.
- Language and Cultural Fit: Most of the pre-recorded immersion videos and immersion platforms are designed for English-speaking audiences. For people who do not understand the language, these environments disorient them much more than the immersion experience itself. This is why it is important that immersion platforms start developing multilingual and culturally-adapted environments.
How PsyTech VR Brings Immersion Therapy into Real-World Clinical Practice
PsyTechVR counts as one of the main platforms that help to bring immersion therapy into everyday clinical use by bridging the gap between technology and therapeutic principles.
PsyTechVR is a therapeutic platform that is designed specifically to provide mental health professionals with the tools they need to create immersive and personalized treatment sessions using technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
One of the things that makes PsyTechVR the ideal choice for real-world clinical practice is how the platform supports structured, safe, and adaptable therapeutic experiences. To ease the burden on therapists, PsyTechVR has a library of pre-designed virtual scenarios that can be easily customized to meet the needs of specific individuals with common phobias, anxiety triggers, or trauma-related fears.
The platform’s interface also makes it easy for therapists to assume control of the exposures and be able to make changes in the exposure intensity, pacing, and complexity of the environment. PsyTechVR also has features that help therapists monitor their patients’ physiological responses, such as heart rate.
Additionally, PsyTechVR is optimized to integrate smoothly with already-existing traditional models like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). A related feature to this is how PsyTechVR allows for session recordings, which are used to evaluate the performance of patients during the exposure and what can be improved upon. It also allows for progress tracking, which helps therapists to easily keep track their patients’ improvement.
Furthermore, when combined with a lightweight VR headset and an intuitive user interface, PsyTechVR becomes much more accessible and can be used in outpatient clinics, private therapy offices, and telehealth setups where patients receive a VR headset and have full sessions from the comfort of their homes. This level of accessibility helps to bring immersive therapy into the hands of more patients, especially those who lack access due to a distance barrier.
PsyTechVR is a therapeutic platform that is designed specifically to provide mental health professionals with the tools they need to create immersive and personalized treatment sessions using technologies like augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR).
One of the things that makes PsyTechVR the ideal choice for real-world clinical practice is how the platform supports structured, safe, and adaptable therapeutic experiences. To ease the burden on therapists, PsyTechVR has a library of pre-designed virtual scenarios that can be easily customized to meet the needs of specific individuals with common phobias, anxiety triggers, or trauma-related fears.
The platform’s interface also makes it easy for therapists to assume control of the exposures and be able to make changes in the exposure intensity, pacing, and complexity of the environment. PsyTechVR also has features that help therapists monitor their patients’ physiological responses, such as heart rate.
Additionally, PsyTechVR is optimized to integrate smoothly with already-existing traditional models like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). A related feature to this is how PsyTechVR allows for session recordings, which are used to evaluate the performance of patients during the exposure and what can be improved upon. It also allows for progress tracking, which helps therapists to easily keep track their patients’ improvement.
Furthermore, when combined with a lightweight VR headset and an intuitive user interface, PsyTechVR becomes much more accessible and can be used in outpatient clinics, private therapy offices, and telehealth setups where patients receive a VR headset and have full sessions from the comfort of their homes. This level of accessibility helps to bring immersive therapy into the hands of more patients, especially those who lack access due to a distance barrier.
Quick Recap
- Immersion Therapy uses VR/AR to treat mental health issues through safe, controlled digital environments.
- It functions as an improvement on traditional exposure therapy by offering realistic, repeatable, and customizable experiences which results in greater therapeutic effect.
- Immersion therapy is effective for PTSD, anxiety, phobias, and even emerging applications like addiction and depression.
- Immersive therapy is solidly backed by clinical trials showing reduced symptoms and increased engagement.
- The barriers that limit people from the usage of exposure therapy includes; higher cost, limited access, and need for professional oversight.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can immersion therapy rewire neural pathways affected by trauma?
Yes. Immersion therapy can help to retrain the brain’s response to trauma by improving the ability of the brain to reorganize and form new connections. When an individual is made to gradually but consistently revisit feared or traumatic situations, the brain, over time, learns that the triggers that it once perceived as scary or harmful are not as dangerous as they seemed. This consequently helps to reduce hyperarousal, avoidance behaviors, and also encourages healthy cognitive patterns, essentially helping the brain to develop adaptive pathways to replace the trauma-linked ones.
How does immersion therapy compare to traditional talk therapy for long-term recovery?
Immersion therapy provides a more practical approach when compared to traditional talk therapy. While the focus in talk therapy is discussion and the analysis of thoughts, immersion therapy places individuals directly into realistic and controlled virtual environments that activate emotional responses in real time. This exposure helps patients to actively confront and process their fears more directly, and this results in faster desensitization. However, the therapeutic impact of immersion therapy is more lasting and effective when they are combined with traditional therapy techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and reflective processing.
What safety protocols protect patients during immersive sessions?
Immersion therapy follows strict safety protocols that ensure the emotional and psychological well-being of the patient throughout treatment. One of these protocols is that immersion therapy sessions must begin with thorough assessments where the therapist gets familiar with their patient’s condition and the patients are briefed on what to expect during the course of the treatment. Also, therapists are required to monitor their patients’ emotional responses during exposure and be on standby to adjust the settings in case the exposures get too overwhelming.
How customizable are immersive therapy environments for individual patient needs?
Immersive therapy environments can be easily customized by therapists to meet the unique needs, triggers, or emotional challenges of every individual. This includes being able to make changes to factors like the intensity of visuals and sounds, scenario theme, or pacing of events. In fact, platforms like PsyTechVR allow for the integration of culturally appropriate elements, ensuring that the therapeutic experience is both effective and efficient.
Thanks for reading!
Dr. Melanie Smith
Advisory board member at PsyTechVR
Dr. Melanie Smith is a Certified Eating Disorders Specialist and Approved Consultant (CEDS-C) and is a Certified Therapist & Trainer of the Unified Protocol for the Transdiagnostic Treatment of Emotional Disorders (UP). Dr. Smith has been already working intensively in the area of helping patients with eating disorders for over 16 years and has proven her expertise working at the Renfrew Center - the nation's pioneer in the treatment of eating disorders since 1985. Dr. Smith's therapy focus includes ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder), and various forms of related specific phobias which include emetophobia (specific phobia of vomiting), health-related anxiety, and coping with chronic illness, and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is another special treatment interest and has played a role in Dr. Smith's professional career over the last few years. Dr. Melanie Smith, together with Dr. Gwilym Roddick, is actively involved in the research and development of OCD and PTSD-related virtual exposure programs, forming the advisory board of PsyTechVR. Dr. Smith plays an active role in the research component of psychological VR product development but also develops training courses for future VR therapists integrating her vast experience of clinical supervision and clinical training gained over the the past decades.
Dr. Smith is passionate about the implementation of evidence-based treatments, clinical supervision, and clinical training and has presented numerous lectures, Continuing Education (CE) workshops, and keynote presentations at academic and professional conferences in the US and overseas. Dr. Melanie Smith has published publications in peer-reviewed journals and is the co-author of the peer-reviewed treatment manual and patient workbook, The Renfrew Unified Treatment Model for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity published by Oxford University Press.
Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) is another special treatment interest and has played a role in Dr. Smith's professional career over the last few years. Dr. Melanie Smith, together with Dr. Gwilym Roddick, is actively involved in the research and development of OCD and PTSD-related virtual exposure programs, forming the advisory board of PsyTechVR. Dr. Smith plays an active role in the research component of psychological VR product development but also develops training courses for future VR therapists integrating her vast experience of clinical supervision and clinical training gained over the the past decades.
Dr. Smith is passionate about the implementation of evidence-based treatments, clinical supervision, and clinical training and has presented numerous lectures, Continuing Education (CE) workshops, and keynote presentations at academic and professional conferences in the US and overseas. Dr. Melanie Smith has published publications in peer-reviewed journals and is the co-author of the peer-reviewed treatment manual and patient workbook, The Renfrew Unified Treatment Model for Eating Disorders and Comorbidity published by Oxford University Press.
Dr. Melanie Smith is a therapist specializing in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and related evidence-based treatments, she claims a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology and a Ph.D. in Counselor Education & Supervision (Capella University)
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