Virtual Reality for the Treatment of Social Anxiety: Recommendations and Challenges for Clinicians

The use of virtual reality methods in the treatment of social anxiety is becoming increasingly prevalent over time due to advancements in technology and availability. Typically, this involves presenting clients with simulated social scenarios as part of exposure therapy. To aid practitioners interested in applying virtual reality treatment, this article highlights the relevant ethical, demographic, practice, and design considerations through a case example. Key elements include protecting client privacy, ensuring the tool is customizable to the physical and psychological needs of the client, and deciding on the type of tool to implement. These include sandbox (flexible co-creation), premade (wide application), or specialized (created specifically for your practice/client). Examples of implementing each type into the course of treatment for an individual with social anxiety are provided.