Virtual Reality and Psychotherapy: these are its qualities
In recent years we have experienced a great advance in new technologies. This development has seen its influence in all areas we know: communication, leisure, marketing, trade ... So, undoubtedly, has involved a change in all areas of our daily lives, from the way we communicate with the rest of the world, even the way we have fun, work or study.
Thus, it is clear that this type of development could reach other areas, such as medicine or psychology. And so it has been. In this way, technology has gradually been introduced in psychotherapy .
- Related article: "Types of psychological therapies"
Virtual Reality applied to therapy
From the use of new technologies to help the patient perform tasks (such as sending useful multimedia files) or the realization of their own psychotherapy online.
However, technology can contribute much more. Current psychotherapy is already using innovative methodologies such as Virtual Reality Therapy . This consists of the use of glasses in the form of a helmet with lenses that allow the visualization of images. These glasses, incorporate some position trackers that allow detecting the movements of the head and, thus, present different images depending on them.
All this is complemented by the use of headphones, which allows creating a greater sense of immersion and, therefore, presence. In this way, the user replaces the present physical reality with a virtual environment.
Thus, thanks to this sense of presence and interaction, this technology is capable of creating a virtual experience (computer created environment) that induces in people cognitive and emotional responses similar to those that would occur in the real world in that same environment . For this reason, Virtual reality is already being used for the treatment of various problems , mainly: phobias, anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Eating Disorders, depression and addictions. In addition, it is useful for the training of some techniques, such as relaxation or meditation.
- Maybe you're interested: "Visualization: the power of imagination to overcome difficulties"
Benefits of using Virtual Reality in Psychotherapy
The use of Virtual Reality in psychotherapy can present many advantages that, until now, were difficult to achieve from traditional psychotherapy. Some of them are:
1. Increase accessibility
In some cases, such as phobias, live exposure was difficult to obtain or not available. Traditional psychotherapy diminished this inconvenience with the use of exposure in imagination.
However, sometimes it was really expensive for the patient to achieve a high imaginative level of the desired situation. Thanks to the creation of virtual environments, it is possible to immerse yourself in the concrete situations that are needed .
2. Possibility of repetition
Thanks to the fact that these environments are generated in a virtual way, it is possible to revive them as many times as necessary, as well as to introduce different events or variables depending on the time of the treatment.
3. It facilitates the personalization of the treatment
Beyond accessibility, It is important that the exhibition is adapted to each particular problem . The handling of videos in 360º of a real situation of the patient can be useful for the exhibition.
- Related article: "Intervention in phobias: the technique of the exhibition"
4. It allows complete control of each event
That is, the psychologist has the advantage of having controlled each of the possible virtual events that can be introduced during the time of exposure, unlike the exhibition in imagination, where it is almost impossible to have control of every detail imagined.
5. Promotes an active role in the patient's health
This advantage can be favored thanks to the recording of 360º videos that the user can do in their daily environment.
Is about a safe environment where nothing dangerous related to the problem actually occurs (as it could be that the plane collides with a building) and that maintains confidentiality since it is not necessary for any other real person, except the professional, to be present at the time of the exhibition or training.
6. Reduce the costs of treatment
It is as it happens in the accompaniment of the psychotherapist to the real situation.
7. Improve the acceptance of treatment
In some cases, Traditional psychotherapy can be rejected by the patient . However, the computer-directed treatment facilitates the initiation of treatment as it is a simulated environment.
