The VR Coach smart system for treating phobias
We have developed various interactive VR scenarios for the treatment of phobias, which together with our smart system therapist software provide the basis for your successful VR therapy.
Interactive VR-Scenarios
Seminar room
Treatment of social phobia and preparation for lectures, job interviews and examinations
Speaking in front of an audience is one of the greatest fears of all! Whether for presentations, job interviews or examinations: With this scenario you can help your patients in a completely new way.
Description of the scenario
At the start of the scenario, the patients find themselves in the entrance area of the room. The patient walks himself or herself or teleports to the middle of the room by clicking on the controller. In front of them, there are tables set up in a U-shape with 12 people sitting there.
The patient can now begin their lecture. The therapist can trigger different reactions from the audience during this time. Specifically:
- Unrest
- Laughter
- High attention level
- Someone raises a hand to ask a question*
Additional feature
- The therapist can change the scenario with a click, so that the patient is sitting in front of only three people.
- Again, the therapist may have a person raise their hand to ask a question.
- The therapist can also activate a stage scene with hundreds of listeners. The patient can move around on a large stage. The listeners automatically follow their movement and thus maintain eye contact. The reactions described above are also possible here.
- Individual conversations between avatars and patients.
Seminar room
Classroom
Treating social anxiety in adolescents
Being assessed by teachers can lead to anxiety disorders in some young people. In this scenario, assessment situations are faced in a classroom.
Description of the scenario
At the start of the scenario, the patients are in the entrance area of the classroom. The patient walks himself or teleports himself to the middle of the classroom by clicking on the controller. In front of him are typical school desks with teenage avatars. The avatars are so-called scanned avatars and are therefore images of real people, which increases graphic realism. A teacher sits next to the patient and observes him.
The patient can now, for example, start a lecture. The therapist can trigger different reactions from the audience during this time. Specifically:
- Unrest
- Laughter
- Foreign shame gesture
- Intensive eye contact with the patient
More features
- An individual dialogue can be triggered between teacher and patient. The teacher’s texts can be defined by the therapist and written into the software.
- The students can also speak texts set by therapists.
- Patient can also write on the board.
Classroom
Airplane
Treatment of aviophobia, claustrophobia and agoraphobia
The fear of airplanes does not only come from a fear of flying. The expected lack of space and the feeling of being far away from home can also trigger reactions of panic. With this scenario you can help your patients to cope with private and professional travel.
Description of the scenario
At the beginning, the patient stands in the aisle of the aircraft, takes a few steps and looks for an empty seat. There are two free seats on one side. The patient clicks on a seat and teleports there. The patient should now also sit down in your practice.
On the plane, the patient experiences a typical atmosphere a few minutes before take-off. They can look out of the window or at the monitor in front of them, where a relaxation video is playing.
The therapist can activate the following interactions in this scenario: Specifically:
- Start – by looking out of the window and via the engine noises getting ever louder, an authentic starting experience is created. After a few minutes, the aircraft switches to normal flight mode.
- Landing – here too, the patient experiences a realistic descent followed by a landing.
- The seat next to the patient can be occupied by a stranger or left vacant.
- The therapist can trigger an announcement that there will be some turbulence shortly.
- The therapist can trigger turbulence. The whole environment shakes. The other people sitting next to the therapist also react with corresponding movements and there is an acoustic clattering.
- The therapist can trigger a false alarm with masks falling down and passengers screaming in terror.
- Individual conversations between passengers and patients.
Airplane
Event foyer
Treatment of social phobia and shyness
Sit at a table with strangers, make contact, engage in small talk, network – for many people with social phobia or similar problems, this is a task that is almost impossible to solve. With this scenario you can help your patients to deal with it! With this scenario you can help your patients to deal with it!
Description of the scenario
The patient is in the corner of a large common room, from where he or she has a good overview of what is happening. He/she can walk through the room themselves or teleport to certain points by clicking on the controller.
On one side of the room there is a buffet table with drinks and food. The therapist can use many features in this scenario. Specifically:
- The therapist can increase the number of tables from 0-7 with 2 people respectively on each.
- The patient can approach each table where the people are sitting.
- The therapist can trigger positive or negative feedback from the people
- Individual conversations between guests and patients.
Further interaction possibilities in the waiter game
- The patient can take the tray in one hand.
- The therapist can trigger a drink order by the hand movement of one of the people.
- The patients can serve a drink to this table.
- The therapist can also trigger positive or negative feedback here.
Further features on the topic of “food”
- The patient can take a plate with pizza or a cake on it.
- The patient can go through the room whilst carrying this plate and can then place it on a bar table or can bring it back.
This feature can provide interesting insights into the therapeutic success of patients with eating disorders. A combination with biofeedback can be a particularly useful addition here.
Event foyer
Height
Description of the scenario
The patient is standing on a terrace of a high-rise building. In front of him/her, there is a walkway which extends a long way out. The patient can walk forward on this walkway and look down to the left and right. As an alternative to walking by themselves, the patient can teleport to different points on this walkway. The therapist can also change the height of the walkway and use other features.
The therapist can control the following features in this scenario:
- Selecting the floor level between 1, 3, 8, 20
- Switching on city sounds on the lower floors
- Switching on wind sounds on the upper floors
Idea:
In the real environment a board can be placed on the floor, which the patient steps on to, in order to have a tangible feeling in the virtual experience.
Height
Room with a spider
Treatment of spider phobia
The fear of spiders is widespread. Those affected suffer not only at the sight of a spider, but also every time they go to the cellar or when tidying up their living room. The mere possibility that an encounter might occur restricts their life quality. This scenario is exactly the controlled setting that sufferers need for successful treatment.
Description of the scenario
At the beginning the patient stands in a room and looks at a table and a chair. He/she can go there or teleport themselves by clicking on the controller. Once they get to the chair, they can sit down. At this point the therapist should help the patient to sit down on a real chair. In the scenario, the patient is now sitting in front of a virtual table.
The therapist can activate the following actions in this scenario:
- Make a spider appear
- Make the spider walk around
- Make the spider walk towards the patient
- Follow the patient’s hand
- Change the size of the spider as required
- Change the speed of the spider as required
Room with a spider
Syringe Scenario
Syringe phobia has several specifications: Fear of needles, fear of blood, fear of pain, fear of doctors. There are probably a few more. With this scenario you can help people to stop letting their fear stop them from wanting to be vaccinated. Alternatively, you can also trigger to take a blood sample.
Description of the scenario
The patient first stands in a treatment room with a doctor standing next to a chair. The patient can go to this chair and sit down. In reality, he sits down on a chair in your practice at this time. As soon as he sits down, he can see a realistic-looking upper body with an exposed left upper arm. The doctor now approaches and administers an injection to the virtual upper arm with a slightly larger syringe than in reality. Or the doctor takes a blood sample.
As a therapist, you can trigger the following actions yourself:
- Make a doctor appear (scenario starts first without a doctor).
- Select whether the upper body should look feminine or male.
The doctor gives an injection into the virtual left upper arm. Or takes a blood draw.
Syringe Scenario
MRI tube
You do not necessarily have to suffer from claustrophobia to find an examination in an MRI tube unpleasant. For people with a fear of confinement, however, it is almost unbearable. The MRI tube is considered a commonly known place of confinement and can therefore also be used for claustrophobics who are confronted with other places of confinement in their everyday life.
Description of the scenario
At the beginning, the patient stands in the corner of the treatment room where the MRI tube is located. He can either go over to the tube himself or jump there using the teleport function. He can look at the tube from close up and put his head in it for a test.
The patient can lie down in your practice. . At the push of a button, you can teleport him to where he has to lie down on the MRI tube. From now on, the patient experiences the rest of the procedure lying down. Including the movement into the MRI machine and the scan in the tube.
As the therapist, you can trigger the following actions yourself:
- Bring the patient into the lying position in front of the MRI tube.
- Let the patient enter the tube
- Start and end the scan
- Size of the tube
MRI tube
Room with a mouse
For some a cute little mouse, but for those affected, it is a creature that makes them tremble. Since encounters with mice can happen at any time, there is a correspondingly high level of suffering. This scenario provides a controlled setting in which your patients are gently to intensively confronted with a mouse.
Description of the scenario
At the beginning, the patient sits on a sofa and looks at an empty table. . The patient can take another seat and move freely around the room. At the push of a button, the therapist can make a mouse appear on the table and then increase the confrontation through various actions.
The therapist can activate the following actions in this scenario:
- Make mouse appear
- Make mouse walk around
- Let the mouse walk to the patient
- Let the mouse move around the room and around the patient’s feet
- Change mouse size as you like
- Change the speed of the mouse as desired
Room with a mouse
Bus Drive
Travelling on public transport can cause various anxieties. For example, travelling alone on a bus to an unfamiliar area is a difficult situation for those who suffer from agoraphobia. For social phobias, it is more the other passengers who trigger fears. This scenario is suitable for both aspects.
Description of the scenario
When your patient puts on the VR headset and you start the scenario on the computer, your patient is instantly on a bus right next to the driver.
The patient has the following possibilities for a high degree of realism:
- Walk through the bus and sit on any seat
- Alternatively, jump directly to these seats via teleportation
- Naturally look out the window and see real scenery (greenery, cars, buildings, people)
- Hold onto the hand strap with a virtual hand
- Press the stop button
The therapist can activate the following actions in this scenario:
- Hide or show other passengers
- Individual conversations between passengers and patients
The passengers are programmed to automatically make eye contact as the patient approaches.
The bus ride is a loop of seven minutes and can be used continuously.
Bus Drive
Car Ride
Amaxophobia is a common anxiety disorder where sufferers have a fear of cars or a fear of driving in different situations.
Description of the scenario
When your patient puts on the VR headset and you start the scenario on the computer, your patient is instantly in a car on the motorway. Before you start the scenario, you can already decide whether the journey should begin on a normal stretch of road, in a tunnel or in an area of roadworks. You can also change the scenario during the journey with just one click.
The patient has the following possibilities for a high degree of realism:
- He/She takes the wheel
- Can change the lane
- Can adjust mirror
- Can set the indicator
- Can regulate the speed
The therapist can activate the following actions in this scenario:
- Slow car for overtaking appears in front of patient
- Darkness
- Rain
- Both together
- Another car makes a mistake
- Form a traffic jam
- Speed
>> Here you can find our article with a video on this scenario.
Car Ride
We add new scenarios several times a year.
If you have any special requests, we can even develop individual scenarios or 360-degree films for your very own needs. Please do not hesitate to contact us!
360-degree-films
These films offer the possibility of putting the patient in different, realistic situations, but without being able to intervene interactively.
Public Transport
Public exposure description
In the first scene your patient is at a tram stop. The tram comes, the door opens and the first scene change follows. Now your patient is in the tram near other passengers. Some wear face masks, others do not. After some time, there is a change to a bus stop. Then your patient is on the bus and experiences the bus ride from two different perspectives.
An overview of the scene sequence once again
- Tram stop (duration: 01.20 minutes)
- Tram ride (duration: 01.20 minutes)
- Bus stop (duration: 00.58 minutes)
- Bus ride (duration: 00.56 minutes)
- Bus ride from a different perspective (duration: 01.06 minutes)
Total duration: 05:40 minutes (Alternatively, all scenes can also be played in and endless loop.)
Public Transport
Basement
Basements are often threatening places for many people. Basements are often threatening places for many people. The fears associated with this are varied – spiders, confinement, ghosts, burglars, to name but a few examples. Nevertheless, going into a basement is often unavoidable. With this offer you help your patients to cope with it in a more composed manner.
Description of the basement exposure
The patient stands at the foot of some basement stairs. In the next scene they are in front of an old basement compartment. A change of scene follows, whereupon the patient is then in this compartment. Afterwards the perspective changes. In both perspectives they may be given the task of finding a spider, which is located in certain places. This is followed by further scenes which leads the patient into a dark corridor.
An overview of the scene sequence once again
- In front of the basement stairs (duration: 00:20 minutes)
- In front of a basement compartment (duration: 00:20 minutes)
- In this basement compartment (duration: 02:00 minutes)
- A different perspective in this compartment (duration: 01:00 minute)
- In a corridor (duration: 00:20 minutes)
- At the end of the dark corridor (duration: 00:40 minutes)
Total duration: 04:10 minutes (Alternatively, all scenes can also be played in and endless loop.)
Basement
The Dentist
A fear of the dentist leads to disadvantageous avoidance strategies for those affected. In contrast to some other fears, it is not possible to arrange a lifetime of avoidance. With this offer you help your patients to be at an appointment with the dentist on time.
Description of the exposure to the dentist
Der Patient befindet sich zuerst vor der Türe einer Zahnarztpraxis. The door opens, followed by a scene change. The patient now finds themselves sitting in the waiting room. Typical drilling noises can already be heard. This is followed by a change of scene into the treatment room. There the patient is standing in front of the treatment chair. After the next scene change the patient finds themselves sitting in the treatment chair. To the left of them is a dentist’s assistant. Typical drilling and suction noises can be heard.
An overview of the scene sequence once again
- Standing in front of the door (duration: 01:00 minute)
- Sitting in the waiting room (duration: 01:30 minutes)
- Standing in front of the treatment chair (duration: 00:40 minutes)
- Sitting on the treatment chair (duration: 02:00 minutes)
Total duration: 05:10 minutes (Alternatively, all scenes can also be played in and endless loop.)
The Dentist
Public Park
Especially for people with a pronounced social phobia, public spaces are hardly accessible. Another problem can be the fear of infections. The result is often an isolated life in one’s own four walls. With this offer you can help your patients to improve their quality of life and health.
Description of the park exposure
Your patient is in only one scene during the entire exposure – sitting on a park bench. What changes is what is happening around them. First, walkers pass by close to the bench. Later, two people take a seat on the neighboring bench and talk. Then another person takes a seat right next to your patient and reads a newspaper. This gradually increases the exposure.
An overview of the increased exposure once again
- The patient is sitting alone on a park bench.
- Walkers pass by closely.
- Two people sit down on a neighboring bench.
- A further person sits directly next to the patient.
Total duration: 08:24 minutes
Public Park
Waterfall in a primeval forest
The trickling sound of water has always been considered a point of attraction for those seeking respite. In this primeval forest, the water flows over a mighty rock face into a small pond from which a stream springs. The site is surrounded by dense primeval forest, but wooden paths lead out of it.
The procedure at a glance:
- Your patient is always in the same place.
- He can turn around in all directions and also look up to the waterfall.
- Only the natural sounds of the water flowing can be heard.
- There are short exercises whereby the patients close their eyes and mentally step under the water for refreshment.
Total duration: Unlimited
Waterfall in a primeval forest
Winter Landscape
Bright sunshine, crisp snow, a sparkling stream and white mountains on the horizon – a place just like out of a winter fairy tale. These scenes, combined with relaxing background music, are the perfect conditions for more peace and serenity.
An overview of the scenes
- View of a large frozen lake
- Snow-covered forest path with trudging sounds
- View of the lake from another perspectiveive
- Wooden bridge with snow falling from a branch into the stream
Total duration: Unlimited
Winter Landscape
Sun rise in Australia
Many people find spending by the water to be relaxing and pleasant. If this is also possible on a deserted beach in Australia, where you can experience a fantastic sunrise, it will be a very special experience!
An overview of the process
- Your patient is always in the same place.
- They can turn in all directions.
- There are no other noises apart from the sound of the sea.
- Every minute you can observe the sun rising and rising.
Total duration: Unlimited
Sun rise in Australia
A Lonely bay in Mallorca
To withdraw and leave everyday life behind is a great need for many. In this lonely bay on Mallorca this is absolutely possible! Your patient lets their eyes wander over the water and the small mountains on the horizon. Soothing music and the soft splashing of water will lead them into an ever-deeper state of relaxation.
An overview of the process
- Your patient is always in the same place.
- The rocky surroundings stand for protection and retreat.
- Besides the soft splashing of water, soothing music can be heard.
Total duration: Unlimited
A Lonely bay in Mallorca
Elevator
Time in a narrow lift is a difficult situation for both social phobics and claustrophobics and is therefore very suited to VR exposure.
Time in a narrow lift is a difficult situation for both social phobics and claustrophobics and is therefore very suited to VR exposure.
The film consists of two scenes:
Scene 1: Patient is alone in the lift
Scene 2: Patient is in the lift together with other people
Both scenes only take about one minute. There is an automatic change from scene 1 to scene 2.
However, as a therapist you can select a single scene and make an endless loop out of it with one click. In this way, each scene can be used independently for as long as you like.
Total duration: Unlimited
Elevator
Audience in a seminar room
Many patients find the idea of standing in front of a group of people who are potentially looking at them critically and scrutinising them stressful. In this film, patients expose themselves to critical listeners in a seminar room. The audience alternately behaves uneasily or with increased attention.
An overview of the procedure:
- Your patient is always in the same place (standing in front of the tables).
- He can turn in all directions.
- Only the speaking noises from the audience can be heard.
- When the patient turns around, he is facing a single person who could be, for example, a critical examiner.
Total duration: Unlimited
Audience in a seminar room
Biofeedback Integration
In all scenarios and films, you have the possibility to view biofeedback data of your patients in a new screen. Namely HRV, temperature and skin conductance.
The required evu TPS finger sensor is available from us.
Find out more about our cost models now.
We have put together different models for clinics and private practices.
What else you should know - FAQs
What are VR scenarios?
Scenarios are computer-generated, fully interactive environments through which your patients can move, pick up objects and solve tasks.
What the patient does when in a scenario is up to the individual. There is no time limit.
In this way, the degree of confrontation can be increased individually by the patient, but also by the therapist. In some cases, a playful approach to situations that trigger anxiety or stress is also possible.
Therapists can actively intervene in the scenario on the laptop and control various changes or actions.
What are 360-degree-films
360-degree films are environments that have been recorded with a 360-degree camera. Patients experience realistic situations and can look in all directions.
360-degree films are also used for exposures in situations that cause anxiety or stress.
The sequence and duration of the scenes are predetermined as in a film. Patients have nothing to do actively, they are just observers.
They are also perfect for relaxation exercises in beautiful natural settings.
