Abstract
Exposure therapy has been around for decades and is still proving to be a robust, evidence-based treatment modality for several psychological issues. Imaginal exposure (vividly imagining a feared object, situation, or activity) and in vivo (directly experiencing the real fear or situation) are the traditional modes of exposure intervention. Although these treatments have shown that they work, they can also be time-consuming, expensive, or even impossible to replicate. A newer exposure therapy combines traditional imaginal therapy with in vivo therapy, but virtually.
This combination creates a middle ground where exposures to situations or fears can be increased or decreased virtually with the counselor’s control, and it can be done safely in the patient’s home or a counseling office. This modality is virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET), or in virtuo. Results have shown that this technology has numerous benefits and has shown effectiveness in treating many psychological disorders in adults, but the application of this technology in youth is unknown. This literature review aims to investigate this gap in the literature and the feasibility of VRET on social anxiety disorders in adolescents.
Keywords: adolescents, virtual reality, virtual reality exposure therapy, social anxiety disorder
Date of Award
Fall 12-16-2024
Document Type
Capstone Paper
Department
Counselor Education - Graduate Studies
First Advisor
Dr. Cathey
Location
Winona, MN
Recommended Citation
Fohrman, April, "Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy for Social Anxiety in Adolescents" (2024). Counselor Education Capstones. 195.
https://openriver.winona.edu/counseloreducationcapstones/195
Metadata Creation Responsibility
April Fohrman
