VR technology allows clinicians to target and control specific fear inducing situations like never before. This treatment is based on the well researched area of cognitive-behavioral therapy using exposure therapy. The VR therapy expands and enhances the traditional exposure therapy which relies on the use of the patient’s memory and visualizations, or in-vivo exposure, to recreate the source of fear or anxiety.
One power of this tool is that VR gives the clinician enhanced control over the therapy environment by immersing the patient into simulated eating situations in a 360-degree visual format. This immersion into the situation is responded to by the patient as if they were there. Immersion elicits all the reactions that we want to be able to work with within the therapy sessions.
Another power, unique to VR, is that the VR equipment can directly impact the patient’s reactions to the visual stimuli by changing and altering the environments through controlling the amount and intensity of exposure. It can also remove and reinsert the patient into the situation as their ability to cope effectively improves.
Cary Frank Schwimmer, Psy.D. has developed VR content and a treatment protocal for use in direct treatment.
I'll be happy to answer any questions that you have!
360 degree VR Images
Links to some helpful articles: Exposure is a form of treatment that is well established in the research literature for treating anxiety. Here are some quick references about exposure in general and related to ED.
Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP) (Intro to Exposure)
https://www.eatingdisorderhope.com/treatment-for-eating-disorders/types-of-treatments/exposure-response-prevention-therapy-erp
How to face your eating disorder fears: Exposure Therapy
BY: Cheri Levinson, PhD
https://uncexchanges.org/2015/08/24/how-to-face-your-eating-disorder-fears-exposure-therapy/
Confronting fear using exposure and response prevention for anorexia nervosa: A randomized controlled pilot study.
Steinglass JE1, Albano AM, Simpson HB, Wang Y, Zou J, Attia E, Walsh BT.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24488838
APA Guidelines for Prolonged Exposure Therapy
https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/treatments/prolonged-exposure.aspx
Welcome to the Cutting Edge of Treatment for Eating Disorders.
These are sample images used for direct exposure of patients to foods. Click on the images, when you see the image hit pause, put your cursor on the image and left click, and then move it around to see a 360 degree view.
When wearing the VR headset, the client experiences sitting at the table.
Peeradigm
Clients can be put in active situations. This video simulates being at a party. Using this we can help our clients work on food fears and social anxiety.
Click on this 5 minute video, keep your cursor on the image, left click and move it around. Click image again to stop video. With the VR headset the client will be in the room watching everything that is happening as if they were there.
These are sample images used for direct exposure to eating situations. Click on the image, when you see the image hit pause, put your cursor on the image and left click, and then move it around to see a 360 degree view. When wearing the VR headset, the client is standing in these locations.
With the VR headset, the patient is in the middle of these locations and as they turn their heads they can see everything around them as if they were actually there.
In addition to the program's standard content:
Customized VR content can be created to meet your unique treatment needs or goals. Let's be creative together!
Imagine the possibilities:
While sitting in their therapist's office we can:
- put a patient in a convenience store surrounded by food
- we can put a patient in a restaurant with friends or family
- we can put a patient at the beach
- we can put a patient in a clothing or bathing suit store
- so many possible settings!
Fully Immersive 360 VR Video
See Differently, Heal Differently