Therapists use virtual reality to help treat phobias
For people seeking to treat and overcome their phobias, they can look no further than virtual reality (VR) therapy.
According to a recent report by the Associated Press, therapists are increasingly taking advantage of VR therapy to help patients get over their fears. The therapy involves patients putting on a VR headset and being exposed to an interactive simulation with a 3-D environment.
The therapy can lead to “real-word gains” for people with phobias and works just as well as traditional exposure therapy, the report said. As products become more available, experts believe people will be able to treat their own mild phobias with VR therapy.
“With exposure therapy, a therapist can accompany a person who's afraid of heights to a tall building,” the report said. “With VR, a patient learns to feel safe on a virtual high-rise balcony, without leaving the therapist's office.”
To read the full report, click the link below.
Danielle covers Clinical Innovation & Technology as a senior news writer for TriMed Media. Previously, she worked as a news reporter in northeast Missouri and earned a journalism degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She's also a huge fan of the Chicago Cubs, Bears and Bulls.