Virtual Reality is fast becoming an effective tool in treating mental health issues.
When most people think of VR, they think of gaming technology. But for decades, scientists around the world have been discovering the surprising health benefits of VR for ailments ranging from PTSD, to phobias, to severe anxiety. Over 5,000 studies reveal that VR has an uncanny ability to prompt relaxation and boost mental health—and best of all, mindfulness. When you put a VR headset on, you are transported into a whole new world, fully immersed to explore a new environment from the comfort of our therapy room.
VR works by creating a sense of psychological presence. When VR scientists speak of presence, they mean the technology has a unique ability to convey a sense of just “being there,” wherever there happens to be. It might be relaxing by the ocean or swimming with dolphins without leaving their couch. The user feels transported to a new virtual environment and temporarily accepts it as reality. When used in the right way, at the right time and with the right client, these virtual journeys can change mind and body for the better.
