Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety

by Elizabeth McMahon, PhD, with Debra Boeldt, PhD

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Practical, down to earth, clearly written, and easy for therapists to understand and apply, Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety is a useful guide for any clinician treating anxiety, regardless of setting (in-office or via telehealth), theoretical orientation, or level of training. Written by an experienced psychologist who has used multiple VR systems since 2010, it’s the only up to date, clinically informed, evidence-based training manual available.

Easy-to-understand concepts and diagrams explain anxiety and its treatment, and the book incorporates research findings and clinical expertise. VRT is described step by step with multiple case examples, and an extended case-vignette chapter presents a session-by-session treatment protocol of a complex case with transcript excerpts. Key findings and quotations from research are also presented.

After completing the guide, therapists and other mental health professionals will understand the unique clinical benefits of VR, be prepared to use VR in therapy comfortably and effectively either in the office or remotely (as part of teletherapy), and will have expertise in a new, needed, and empirically validated treatment for a common clinical problem.

Elizabeth McMahon, PhD, is a licensed psychologist in private practice, consultant, author of Overcoming Anxiety and Panic Interactive Guide, and an acknowledged expert in virtual reality therapy for anxiety who has used VR in clinical practice since 2010.

Debra Boeldt, PhD, is the deputy director of the National Mental Health Innovation Center and senior instructor in the Departments of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Endorsements

The clinical use of Virtual Reality technology has emerged as the technology has caught up with the early vision and evolving science! This book will be extremely helpful for clinicians who want to implement this cutting edge approach to delivering evidence-based care in their practice. VR therapies will be a big part of the future of mental and physical health care moving further into the 21st Century!

—Albert “Skip” Rizzo, PhD, Director, Medical Virtual Reality, Institute for Creative Technologies and Research Professor, Dept. of Psychiatry and School of Gerontology, University of Southern California

After decades of research, virtual reality is now an affordable reality for clinicians. This timely volume offers a step-by-step guide providing highly practical tools and techniques to engage anxiety patients – from phobics to individuals with panic disorder and PTSD - in treatment within a comprehensive model of anxiety. The volume is designed for maximum ease of use with many case examples, summary tables, clinical questions and treatment overviews. Highly recommended for clinicians, scholars, and the general reader interested in self-help alike.

—Prof. Giuseppe Riva, Ph.D, Full Professor of General Psychology and Director of the Applied Technology for Neuro-Psychology Lab. Istituto Auxologico Italiano, Milan, Italy

As a psychologist who has used Virtual Reality Exposure for many years in my own practice, I was excited to read Dr. McMahon’s new book, Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety: A Guide for Therapists. She has written a captivating and informative book that could easily be the foundation for a graduate course in Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy, or a primer for therapists to expand their knowledge of one of the most innovative advances in mental health services.

—Howard Gurr, PhD, BC-TMH, www.vrtforphobias.com, Founder, www.vrtherapistsinternational.com directory of VR therapists worldwide

Dr. McMahon is an early adopter and pioneer in clinical virtual reality. Through her concise and engaging writing, Dr. McMahon has masterfully documented the most up-to-date, empirically supported, anxiety VR therapy guide. This writing is an essential guide and resource for Virtual Reality enthusiasts, clinicians, academics, and organizations looking to institute Virtual Reality into their healthcare practices.”

—Michael Valdovinos, PsyD, ABPP, VR Expert, Assistant Clinical Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco

This book for therapists about how to use virtual reality (VR) to treat anxiety disorders covers the A to Z about anxiety disorders, how to treat them, and how to treat them with virtual reality. It’s a wonderful guide for both experienced and new therapists, and for therapists experienced with VR and those new to it. In addition to decreasing clients’ anxiety, it also decreases therapists’ anxiety as we adopt a new modality, particularly as we are doing more remote sessions.

—Robin Rosenberg, Ph.D., ABPP, CEO and Founder of Live in Their World

The clinical use of virtual reality in mental health settings has been quietly gaining traction over the last few years as the hardware becomes more accessible and software offerings blossom. Of particular interest and applicability is the use of virtual reality therapy (VRT) with a variety of clinical presentations of anxiety disorders. Drs. McMahon and Boeldt have presented case examples, research, and clinical structures for practitioners who are new and familiar with VRT alike. A must read for the 21st century of mental health care and beyond. 

—Jessica Stone, Ph.D., RPT-S, Private Practice Clinician, Co-Founder of Virtual Sandtray App, LLC

For Dr. Elizabeth McMahon, effective therapy is based on evidence—not just the newest, shiniest trend. Her active participation in years of evaluating virtual reality software development for her patients has resulted in a purposeful integration into practice protocols. This book shows the power of immersive technology to bridge the gap between in-office therapy sessions and real-life. I love how she shares her heart-felt candid stories of real-world patient outcomes and guides the reader toward better clinical understanding of the use of virtual reality within established therapeutic models.

—Kristi Hansen Onkka, Founder, healthiAR.com

Virtual Reality Therapy for Anxiety: A Guide for Therapists is one of the most significant technology advancements in the treatment of anxiety. Therapists face daily the challenge that exposing clients to what they fear most is the path to overcoming those same fears. If you have fears about bringing virtual reality into your practice, take to heart from Dr. McMahon's own words to her clients - think of it as an A.F.O.G.: Another Fabulous Opportunity for Growth. 

—Lara Honos-Webb, PhD, author of The Six Super Skills for Executive Functioning