Virtual Reality (VR) can also be used to help you recover from anxiety and PTSD through Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET). VRET aims to reduce anxiety by having the person confront what you fear (e.g. heights, flying, public speaking, driving, being in public places). Exposure can be carried out using VR, where you are exposed to a computer-simulated environment. These simulations are safe, controlled by a trained occupational therapist, and can be stopped at any time. Together, you and your occupational therapist select the virtual environments and experiences that will be most helpful for you depending on your fear and your stage of therapy. Through exposure to a feared situation, you gradually get used to that situation and develop better coping skills. This reduces fear and improves your sense of control as you feel less need to avoid the situation. The same concept of “tricking the brain” in pain management, clinical research have shown VR exposure therapy to be effective in helping people deal with anxiety, phobias and PTSD.

Traditional exposure therapy may involve imaginal exposures which are dependent upon the client being able to effectively imagine their feared scenario (e.g. public speaking, driving a car and having a an accident) or stimulus (e.g. dogs, birds, needles)

Some people are not good at visualizing or imagining scenarios so virtual reality can be very helpful for these people as it eliminates the need for them to use their imagination.

The VR software that is currently being used has been developed by psychologists, and is used as part of Cogitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) based exposure therapy all around the world.

Research has shown virtual reality exposure to be more effective than imaginal exposure for treatment of phobias

Our dedicated mental health practitioners, undergo a comprehensive onboarding and training process. Our practitioners  are enthusiastic about medical virtual reality and providing high-quality compassionate care to their patients.