Explorations in Designing Virtual Environments for Remote Counselling

TL;DR

This paper explores how Virtual Reality can be used to improve remote counselling by creating immersive, customizable environments that enhance engagement and therapeutic effectiveness, based on a pilot study with experienced psychotherapists.

Contribution

It introduces a framework for designing effective virtual environments for remote therapy, highlighting key factors like boundaries, customization, and therapeutic alignment.

Findings

VR enhances presence and engagement in remote therapy

Design considerations include boundaries, customization, and therapeutic approach alignment

Pilot study with therapists provides insights for future VR therapy development

Abstract

The advent of technology-enhanced interventions has significantly transformed mental health services, offering new opportunities for delivering psychotherapy, particularly in remote settings. This paper reports on a pilot study exploring the use of Virtual Reality (VR) as a medium for remote counselling. The study involved four experienced psychotherapists who evaluated three different virtual environments designed to support remote counselling. Through thematic analysis of interviews and feedback, we identified key factors that could be critical for designing effective virtual environments for counselling. These include the creation of clear boundaries, customization to meet specific therapeutic needs, and the importance of aligning the environment with various therapeutic approaches. Our findings suggest that VR can enhance the sense of presence and engagement in remote therapy, potentially improving the therapeutic relationship. In the paper we also outline areas for future research based on these pilot study results.