Virtual Reality Therapy
Exposure therapy has long been a method for helping clients address contexts and scenarios that are distressing. For clients who have a fear of elevators or agoraphobia, creating situations in which the client may learn to address their fears may not pose a problem. For others whose situational fears are dangerous or otherwise difficult to recreate in therapy sessions, virtual reality therapy provides a means through which exposure may be created.
Virtual reality therapy shows particular promise in the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for individuals exposed to war or violence. It has been applied with civilians as well as military personnel, and with equipment as simple as projectors and headphones to head-mounted displays, controllers shaped like rifles, olfactory inputs, and environments that vibrate (Motraghi et al., 2014). Likewise, virtual reality therapy may be useful in treatment with addiction, where exposure to situations or substances may pose too great a risk of release at a particular point in time. For instance, treatment with a recovering alcoholic might include a virtual bar scene.
For this Discussion, you consider how you might incorporate virtual reality therapy into CBT/REBT, specifically. How could you analyze clients’ thoughts and fears? How could clients challenge their negative thoughts or irrational beliefs in a virtual session?
Reference: Motraghi, T., Seim, R., Meyer, E., & Morissete, S. (2014). Virtual reality exposure therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: A methodological review using CONSORT guidelines. Journal of Clinical Psychology 70(3), 197–208.
To Prepare:
- Review this week’s Learning Resources as well as the virtual reality media programs.
- Search the Walden library for articles to support the incorporation of virtual reality therapy with CBT/REBT.
With these thoughts in mind:
By Day 4
Post by Day 4 your explanation of how virtual reality therapy can be integrated into CBT/REBT. Use the articles you found in your search as well as your Learning Resources to support your post.
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources. Use proper APA format and citations.
Required Readings (Don’t have to use all of them)
Motraghi, T., Seim, R., Meyer, E., & Morissete, S. (2014). Virtual reality exposure therapy for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: A methodological review using CONSORT guidelines. Journal of Clinical Psychology 70(3), 197–208.
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Riva, G. (2009). Virtual reality: An experiential tool for clinical psychology. British Journal of Guidance & Counseling, 37(3), 337–345. doi:10.1080/03069880902957056
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Reger, G. M., & Gahm, G. A. (2008). Virtual reality exposure therapy for active duty soldiers. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 64(8), 940–946. doi: 10.1002/jclp.20512
Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases.
Rothbaum, B. O., Hodges, L. F., Kooper, R., Opdyke, D., Williford, J. S., & North, M. (1995). Effectiveness of computer-generated (virtual reality) graded exposure in the treatment of acrophobia. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 152(4), 626–8.
Other Suggested Books for Further Reading
Mennuti, R. B., Christner, R. W., & Freeman, A. (Eds.). (2012). Cognitive-behavioral interventions in educational settings: A handbook for practice (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Routledge Taylor & Francis Group.
Bernard, M. E. (2004). The REBT therapist’s pocket companion for working with children and adolescents. New York, NY: Albert Ellis Institute.
Beck, A., Rush, A. J., Shaw, B. F., & Emery, G. (1979). Cognitive therapy of depression. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Hayes, S. C., Follette, V. M., & Linehan, M. M. (Eds.). (2004). Mindfulness and acceptance: Expanding the cognitive-behavioral tradition. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Hayes, S. C., Strosahl, K. D., & Wilson, H. G. (2012). Acceptance & commitment therapy: The process and practice of mindful change (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Segal, Z. V., Williams, J. M. G., & Teasdale, J. D. (2002). Mindfulness-based cognitive therapy for depression: A new approach to preventing relapse. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
Required Media
Virtual Reality for PTSD:
Frontline: WGBH Educational Foundation. (Producer). (2010). A soldier’s therapy session [Video file]. Retrieved September 28, 2016, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnat…
Virtual Reality Medical Center. (Producer). (2013). Virtual Reality Medical Center – VR treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) [Video file]. Retrieved September 28, 2016, from
Note: This video is approximately 5 minutes.
VR with Panic Attacks:
Virtual Reality Medical Center. (Producer). (2013). Virtual reality therapy for panic disorder, agoraphobia, and specific phobias [Video file]. Retrieved September 28, 2016, from
Note: This video is approximately 4 minutes.
Optional Media Resource
Frontline: WGBH Educational Foundation. (Producer). (2010).
A soldier’s therapy session [Video file]. Retrieved September 28, 2016, from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnat…
Attachments area
Answer preview
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is considered a treatment that aims to recognize and alter negative or harmful thinking habits that affect actions and emotions. Cognitive-behavioral therapy’s primary focus is to deal with overwhelming emotional problems in a healthy, positive way by splitting them down into smaller parts. Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) is a technical device that allows users to explore a computer-simulated environment within a safe setting (Motraghi et al., 2014). Moreover, it has been proven to treat mental health conditions that are also treated by CBT. As a result, scientists are trying to come up with mechanisms of incorporating VRT into CBT.
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