Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) for Phobias

This recorded webinar is not eligible for CEs.

Virtual reality (VR) lets therapists offer individualized, controlled, immersive, repeatable exposure experiences during in-office or teletherapy sessions. Exposure therapy is the best practice treatment for phobias, but real-world exposure can be frightening, difficult, uncontrollable, or difficult to arrange. Clients are seeking VR therapy because VR can make exposure therapy easier and more acceptable. Changes in VR generalize to the real world. This webinar covers uses of VR in treating phobias, presents key research findings supporting VR exposure therapy (VRET), and touches on Diversity/Equity/Inclusion (DEI) issues. The presentation includes seven secrets of effective VRET, eight ways to monitor client response, and two case studies. The webinar also discusses VRET’s benefits, potential risks, common therapist concerns, and two approaches to creating a VR exposure hierarchy.

Learning Objectives

1. Explain the research support and rationale for using virtual reality for exposure with phobias.
2. Outline a hierarchy of virtual reality exposures as part of specific phobia treatment.
3. Describe two ways to evaluate client response to virtual reality exposure therapy.