VR Phobia Therapy

Discover VR Therapy: A Breakthrough in Conquering Phobias

Imagine stepping into a different world—a world where fears lose their grip, and anxieties fade away. That’s the promise of Virtual Reality (VR) phobia therapy, sometimes known as virtual reality exposure therapy, a revolutionary approach to tackling specific fears and anxieties whilst in the safety of a comfortable room with a trained therapist.

Perhaps your phobia has been impacting your daily life, and you are struggling to continue as normal. Maybe it’s affecting your mental health, making you feel anxious, lonely or stressed because you are missing out on things you once loved, or you are feeling low, exhausted or overwhelmed as a result of dealing with your anxieties everyday.

Dealing with your feelings can be tough, especially if you are uncertain on how to approach moving forward or if you feel stuck with nobody to turn to. At NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Talking Therapies, our expert therapists are here to help you and remind you that you are not alone.

What is a phobia?

The definition of a phobia is:

An extreme or irrational fear of or aversion to something.

Phobias can impact your daily life because they leave you with an overwhelming and persistent fear of a specific situation, place or object, like social situations, feeling like you are unable to escape a place if panic symptoms occur (agoraphobia) or spiders.

You may also experience a phobia if you are dealing with PTSD after a traumatic event, for which Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) may be a good treatment option, or you can undergo exposure therapy.

They can impact your mental health, and you may experience anxiety disorders or other symptoms as a result of your phobia. You may begin to consider professional support or treatment options to help you deal with your phobia.

Exposure therapy, like virtual reality exposure therapy, can help you by using the power of virtual reality to mimic situations, places or objects you fear. You can be exposed to these things in a safe environment, with one of our expert therapists supporting your journey.

The revolutionary approach of VR therapy can make a huge difference to your life compared to other talking therapies, which may not be as effective in supporting you.

How does VR therapy work?

With Virtual Reality therapy, or VR therapy, a therapist guides you through computer-simulated environments tailored to your specific phobia, whether it’s fear of heights, flying, spiders, dogs, or social situations. In this safe and controlled setting, you confront your fears head-on, with the support of a trained professional.

VR therapy is a versatile form of exposure therapy. Unlike other talking therapies, it can virtually recreate any scenario, from towering heights to bustling social gatherings, allowing you to confront your fears without any real-world risks.

Using a VR headset, you will be transported to a situation you fear most, whilst in a comfortable space with an expert therapist by your side, to allow you to create coping mechanisms for the situations you struggle to cope with. Over time, this controlled exposure therapy allows you to build confidence with these situations, places or objects to reduce your fear response.

Due to the power of VR, you can be gradually exposed to the environments you fear most to learn how to approach dealing with your phobia and helping ease any symptoms of anxiety, ultimately supporting your overall mental health.

Other talking therapies, like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Counselling for Depression and Talking Therapies for Couples are available, but they may not be best suited to your particular situation, unlike exposure therapy in the form of virtual reality therapy.

How do I access VR therapy?

If you’re struggling with overwhelming fears or anxieties, or if your phobia is having an impact on your daily life and mental health, Virtual Reality exposure therapy, or VR therapy, may be the solution.

You can self-refer to our service if you are aged over 18, are located in the Nottingham or wider Nottinghamshire area and are registered with a GP in the area.

Self-referrals are easy: you can access support through Limbic, our online digital assistant, and this is the fastest way to receive support, or you can complete our online form. Alternatively, you can call our team on 0333 188 1060. Your GP or another healthcare professional can also refer you to our services.

You will have an initial assessment with a friendly member of our team. After this assessment, your therapist may recommend the innovative approach of virtual reality exposure therapy based on your individual needs.

Then, you will begin your VR therapy treatment and start moving towards better mental health with the support of one of our expert therapists.