Virtual Reality Therapy in Altona Meadows
Face your fears gradually in immersive virtual environments
A therapy that uses immersive virtual reality to help you confront and overcome fears, phobias, and anxiety in a controlled, gradual setting.
Quick Overview
What is VR Therapy?
Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT) is a form of exposure therapy that uses immersive virtual environments to help you confront and overcome fears, phobias, and anxiety. By creating realistic scenarios in a controlled, gradual setting, VRT allows you to gradually face situations that would be difficult, dangerous, or impossible to recreate in real life.
At Change Your Mind Psychology, we offer VR therapy as part of our commitment to evidence-based treatment. Our VR system can simulate a wide range of environments—from heights and flying to public speaking scenarios and social situations—allowing for precisely controlled exposure experiences.
VR can trigger genuine emotional and physical responses while you remain in the therapy room. Because your brain responds to the virtual environment in a similar way to the real thing, what you practise in VR can help when you face real-world situations.
How VR Therapy Works
VR therapy follows the principles of exposure therapy, enhanced by immersive technology:
Assessment - First, we identify your specific fears or anxieties and create a hierarchy from least to most anxiety-provoking scenarios.
Education - You learn about how anxiety works, why avoidance maintains fear, and how gradual exposure helps overcome it.
VR Introduction - You're introduced to the VR equipment in a neutral environment to get comfortable with the technology.
Graduated Exposure - Starting with less challenging scenarios, you're gradually exposed to increasingly difficult virtual situations. At each level, you remain until your anxiety naturally decreases.
Processing - After each VR experience, we discuss what you noticed, how your anxiety changed, and what you learned about your ability to cope.
Real-World Transfer - As confidence builds in VR, we plan real-world exposures to consolidate your gains.
Throughout the process, you control the pace. You can pause or stop the VR experience at any time, and your therapist is with you to guide and support you.
Conditions Treated with VR Therapy
What to Expect
Your First Session
Your first session involves assessment, education about VR therapy, and typically a brief introduction to the VR environment so you can experience how it works.
Ongoing Sessions
Sessions involve increasingly challenging VR exposures, always at a pace you're comfortable with. Your therapist monitors your anxiety levels and guides you through each experience.
Evidence & Research
Research suggests VR exposure can be comparable to in-person exposure for some specific phobias. Evidence for other anxiety concerns is still developing, and results vary from person to person.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Therapies
EMDR
A structured, evidence-based therapy that helps people process distressing memories so they may feel less intense over time.
Clinical Hypnosis
A therapeutic technique that uses focused attention and suggestion, usually alongside CBT. It may help some people with anxiety, pain and some habits; results vary.
ACT
A mindfulness-based therapy that helps you accept difficult experiences while committing to actions aligned with your values.
Fees & Payment Options
View session fees, Medicare rebates, and payment options for this therapy.
* Session estimates are indicative only. The number of sessions required varies depending on individual circumstances, severity of concerns, treatment goals, and progress in therapy. Learn more about therapy duration.
Ready to Start Your Journey?
Take the first step toward positive change. Our team is here to support you every step of the way.