Abstract:

Immersive virtual reality (iVR) has dynamically evolved in recent years, introducing unprecedented possibilities for psychotherapeutic care, particularly in the area of exposure therapy. As iVR has solidified its standing as a highly promising technology for training and education across diverse fields, there is a growing demand for innovative methods and techniques to support psychotherapeutic services. Virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) has emerged as a new trend in psychotherapy domains, with recent research endorsing its safety and economic viability as an alternative to traditional in vivo exposure therapy. A specific area of focus within this context is psychotherapeutic supervision and training, which often involves experts and trainees facing time and location constraints. Current literature and research consistently affirm the belief that iVR possesses features conducive to remote and authentic immersive experiences, presenting the potential to significantly enhance psychotherapy training, including VRET. However, specific tools and applications in this domain are limited, with only a few essential products currently available. This contribution outlines and discusses a specific architecture for immersive virtual environments designed for exposure therapy. The discussion centers on addressing psychological and psychotherapeutic requirements on one hand, and usability aspects such as visualization and interaction on the other. Special emphasis is given to the potential for continuous recording and analysis of physiological data during the session, aiming to facilitate and enhance the overall safety of the therapeutic process.

Keywords:

IVR, virtual reality, psychotherapy, exposure therapy, VRET, training, usability, virtual environments.