VRET is uniquely suited for targeting a variety of psychological conditions. VRET is used in treatment for phobias, anxiety disorders, addictions, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Addiction/ Relapse Prevention – Exposure to triggers enabling client (alcoholic, addicts) to learn effective coping skills and strategies to prevent relapse. They learn a greater sense of mastery and control when faced with triggering situations, learn distress tolerance and coping skills for cravings and anxiety and cognitive reinforcement of new behaviours.

Our VR experiences include just some of the following settings:

  • Airport
  • Bar
  • Supermarket/ convenience store
  • At home alone
  • Off-licence/ liquor store
  • Party

Anxiety Disorders – Anxiety disorders are among the mental health problems with the highest prevalence (WHO) These include panic disorder and panic attacks, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorder, selective mutism, separation anxiety. The client learns anxiety management strategies and gains awareness of body sensations and action tendencies and ways to address the thoughts and beliefs that create the anxiety.

Some of the following VR experiences we use with regards to relaxation for anxiety include:

  • 6-4-6 paced breathing
  • Aquarium
  • Autogenic training
  • Deep breathing relaxation
  • Mindfulness

Fears and phobias – The client learns anxiety management strategies and to understand the phobia is irrational by developing a hierarchy of anxiety producing situations and stimuli which begins the process of exposure to the elements identified. We use VR experiences to combat the following phobias:

Acrophobia (Fear of Public speaking including Fear of speaking publicly for executives and professionals.

  • Acrophobia (heights, lifts/elevators)
  • Astraphobia (fears of severe weather
  • conditions including storms, thunder,
  • hurricanes and tornadoes)
  • social phobia (fear of meeting and engaging
  • with people in social settings including bars,
  • restaurants and gatherings)
  • Arachnophobia (fear of spiders)
  • Fear of Bridges
  • Heights
  • Aviophobia (fear of Transport i.e flying, trains, tubes/ underground)

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) – for ex-military and people that have experienced combat related stress during traumatic events that are still affecting them. The client learns a greater sense of mastery and control when faced with the ‘real life’ anxiety and flashbacks.