Virtual reality (VR) is an exciting technology that we associate with games rather than therapy. It allows for near-total immersion in a computer-generated, 3D environment that invites interaction. Doctors and psychologists believe VR can treat patients diagnosed with several mental health issues.
In the therapeutic world, we call it VR therapy. You might also hear it referred to as:
· Exposure therapy
· Reality therapy
· Phobia therapy
Why so many terms? Because the greatest benefit of VR therapy is helping patients overcome fears, anxieties, phobias, etc. VR has proven to be an amazingly effective tool for helping people change their thoughts, emotions, and reactions toward things that frighten them. Conditions as potentially paralysing as nyctophobia and PTSD can be addressed through VR therapy.
Book an appointment
The Basics of VR Therapy
As a therapeutic tool, VR is intended to create a 3D environment similar to what a patient would experience in real life. Creating that environment according to a patient’s experiences and perceptions allows us to encourage the same thoughts, emotions, and responses the patient normally experiences in the real world.
By doing this in a VR environment, we can control the experience to make the patient always feel safe. We can also modify the experience throughout subsequent treatments so that the patient gradually overcomes their fears.
3 Elements of VR Therapy
Whether it is exposure therapy in London or phobia therapy in New York, effective VR therapy requires three critical elements:
3D Environment – Although the VR environment does not have to look photorealistic, it does need to be 3D to trick the brain into believing that what is being experienced is real.
Interaction – A 3D environment is enhanced when the patient can interact with it. The idea is to add to the perception of reality by allowing patients to participate in the experience rather than just viewing it.
Sensory Stimulation – Effective VR therapy requires sensory stimulation. The more stimulation, the better. VR environments will always stimulate vision and hearing. Some also stimulate touch through tactile experiences.
All of this is accomplished with the selection of electronic devices. VR headsets and audio systems are the bare minimum. Many VR packages also include gloves or hand-held devices that become a key element in interacting with the 3D environment.
Treating Fears, Anxieties, and Phobias
Mental health is a tricky thing. When therapists are dealing with fears, anxieties, and phobias, they often seek ways to help patients overcome by exposing them to the environments that bother them. But sometimes, real environments are too much. VR therapy is the next best thing.
The perfect example to illustrate virtual reality therapy is treating a patient who fears crowds. Spending too much time around too many people causes anxiety and fear. The therapist could treat the patient in a real setting, but such settings are unpredictable and impossible to control.
With VR therapy:
· the therapist can control the length of the experience
· the environment can be modified in terms of location, the size of the crowd, etc.
· modifications to the environment can be made even while treatment is taking place
· the therapist can immediately end the session if it proves too much for the patient.
VR therapy gives control of the treatment environment to patients and their therapists. This results in a safe environment that allows patients to progress at a comfortable pace rather than being thrown into a real situation that may be too overwhelming.
Yes, but Does It Work?
Understanding the basics of VR therapy is a good starting point. But does it work? Yes. Numerous studies have detailed many benefits for a variety of mental health conditions.
One particular study published in 2017 showed VR therapy to be an effective treatment for PTSD. Patients reported meaningful reductions in anxiety, depression, and other PTSD symptoms after undergoing VR therapy.
Though we do not fully understand the mechanisms at work here, one of the underlying elements of VR therapy is the ability to explore one's thoughts, emotions, and reactions. The ability to explore makes VR a fantastic tool for addressing phobias and fears.
Exploration Leads to Understanding
Exposing the patient to an environment that causes fear or anxiety opens the door to exploring why that is. Why do certain environments evoke certain thoughts and emotions in you? Why do you respond to those environments as you do?
VR therapy allows patients to find those answers by tightly controlling virtual environments and modifying them accordingly. A few changes can help patients understand why they think or feel the way they do. Several treatments can help them rethink the troublesome environments so that their brain can recalculate how they respond.
Appropriate for Multiple Conditions We are happy to say that VR therapy is appropriate for multiple conditions. We recommended it as one possible option to treat:
· general anxiety
· panic disorder
· depression
· agoraphobia
· nyctophobia
· PTSD
Some people find that VR therapy is all they need to overcome their fears and anxieties. Others combine VR therapy with ongoing treatments provided by other healthcare professionals. What is best for you? Whatever helps restore your mental health.
VR Therapy for a Healthier Lifestyle
We offer VR and exposure therapy in London as an alternative treatment for numerous conditions. Our belief, backed up by research data, is that VR therapy is an incredibly good tool for creating a healthier lifestyle. Perhaps it can help you overcome your anxiety, depression, or fear.
Virtual reality may get most of its attention in the gaming environment and metaverse. That’s fine. But it also deserves attention as a therapeutic treatment for better mental health. Virtual reality brings new treatment options to bear, options that are not always available in the real world.
If you have been looking for a safe, highly controlled, and virtual environment to explore and overcome your mental health issues, we invite you to learn more about VR therapy. We offer you a safe and effective treatment environment should you decide that VR therapy is right for you.
Click here to download
Psychedelics and virtual reality:
parallels and applications
Ready to book your VR Therapy?
Such biofeedback from VR users as heart rate variability, electromyography, electrooculography, and electroencephalogram can be used by our professionals for analysis.
With the help of data, experts can deeply study user behavior and find out users’ reaction to the virtual environment.
Some of the conditions that could be treated with a combination of a treatment plan including VR Therapy
1. Conditions
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Depression
- Lyme’s Disease
- Alcohol Detox
- Anxiety
- Neuro-Degeneration
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Anti-Ageing
2. Fatigue and exhaustion
- General Fatigue And/Or Exhaustion
- Recovery After Illness
- Chronic Fatigue/MS
- Burnout Syndrome
- Cancer Fatigue
3. Metabolic disorders
- Hypercholesterolemia
- Diabetes
4. Cardiovascular diseases
- Arteriosclerosis
- Micro-Angiopathy
- Coronary Heart Disease
- Heart Failure
- Hypertension
- Erectile Dysfunction
5. Immune system
- Allergies
- Hay Fever
- Asthma
- Autoimmune Diseases
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Recurrent Infections
- Chronic Infections (Bacterial, Viral And Parasites)
- Chronic And Chronic Recurrent Chest Infections
- Influenza (Recovery)
- Lyme Disease
- Chronic Hepatitis
- HIV
- Low Immunity
- Hashimoto Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Psoriasis
6. Chronic pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Migraines
- Chronic Head Ache
7. Emotional health
- Addiction
- Autism
- Depression
- Anxiety Disorder
- Insomnia
- Stress-Related Conditions
8. Other conditions
- Irritable Bladder Syndrome
- Chronic Toxicity
- Hearing Loss
- Tinnitus
- Hormonal Imbalances
- Some Forms Of Infertility
- Macular Degeneration
- Osteoporosis
- Performance Improvement (Sport)
- Polyneuropathy
- Chronic Kidney Disease, Incl. Renal Failure
- Chronic Rhinitis And Sinusitis
9. General effects
- Significant Improvement Of General Fitness
- Improved Sleep And Vigilance
- Improved Mood
- Reduced Drug Consumption
10. Special effects
- Optimization Of Diabetic Metabolism
- Improved Blood Fat Profile
- Improved Liver And Kidney Function
- Reduction Of Relapse Of Chronic-Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Improved General Wellbeing And Mobility In Multiple Sclerosis
- Improved Pain Control In Chronic Pain
- Improved Tinnitus
- Reduction Of Anti-Hypertensive Medication
- It Activates The Parasympathetic Activity Of The Autonomic Nervous System Counteracting The Long Term Effect Of Stress On The Organism.
5 Day Detox
Our founding partner John Gillen has been helping people recover from alcohol and drug addiction for over 20 years - our 5 day plan lessens the withdrawal symptoms & puts your body and mind on track for optimal health.
TES therapy
Transcranial Electrical Stimulation (TES) is a non-invasive, completely painless non-pharmaceutical therapy tested to be effective with a range of conditions.
VR Therapy
Whatever your brain learns in a virtual reality environment transfers into the real world. This is an emerging science and has so far been proven effective in the treatment of a range of issues including phobias, anxiety and depression.
NAD+ Cell Therapy
NAD+ cell therapy is a proven treatment for a whole host of conditions including anxiety related disorders, depression, and alcohol withdrawal to name but a few.
Satori Relaxation Therapy
The Satori chair (ZRO Touch Wellness System) helps the user to enter a state of deep meditation by sending vibrational frequencies to different areas of the body.
Get answers and advice
Our goal is to answer all your questions in a timely manner.