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<p>Social anxiety is characterized by feelings of tension, fear, and discomfort in social situations, often leading to avoidance behaviours that hinder social, educational, and professional engagement. Traditional treatments, such as systematic desensitization (SD), involve gradual exposure to feared stimuli to reduce avoidance and build self-regulatory skills through phases of relaxation, fear identification, and exposure. With technological advancements, Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) has emerged as a promising alternative, offering controlled and customizable environments to facilitate gradual exposure in a safe and effective manner. Our work investigates the potential of integrating metaverse-based virtual environments into the treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), focusing on the perspectives of young psychotherapists. The main objectives are: (a) evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and ethical implications of these environments in clinical practice, (b) identify key features of immersive virtual environments that optimize SAD treatment, and (c) examine the evolving role of therapists in virtual settings, including their impact on the therapeutic process and integration with traditional methods. A qualitative methodology is employed, including focus groups and structured questionnaire. Eleven Italian psychotherapists, six females and five males, aged 28 to 39 (mean age of 31.18), participated in virtual reality (VR) exposure sessions. Two different applications are involved in the study: one leveraging metaverse-based environments and another confined to closed VR settings. Results revealed that participants perceived the integration of these technologies into clinical practice as beneficial, emphasizing the importance of realistic and customizable scenarios in facilitating systematic desensitization. Also challenges emerged, including initial technical difficulties, concerns about data privacy, and the necessity for professional supervision when use in clinical settings. Moreover, participants suggested that the active involvement of therapists is crucial to ensure the safe and effective implementation of these innovative tools in clinical practice. These findings highlight the transformative potential of metaverse-based environments in SAD treatment while underscoring the need for clear clinical protocols, adequate training, and further longitudinal studies to evaluate long-term effectiveness.</p>

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Metaverse-Based Exposure Therapy and Social Anxiety: Perspectives from Young Psychotherapists

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年8月14日

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  • Antonella Cavallaro,
  • Marco Romano,
  • Alessandro Frolli

摘要

Social anxiety is characterized by feelings of tension, fear, and discomfort in social situations, often leading to avoidance behaviours that hinder social, educational, and professional engagement. Traditional treatments, such as systematic desensitization (SD), involve gradual exposure to feared stimuli to reduce avoidance and build self-regulatory skills through phases of relaxation, fear identification, and exposure. With technological advancements, Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) has emerged as a promising alternative, offering controlled and customizable environments to facilitate gradual exposure in a safe and effective manner. Our work investigates the potential of integrating metaverse-based virtual environments into the treatment of Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD), focusing on the perspectives of young psychotherapists. The main objectives are: (a) evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and ethical implications of these environments in clinical practice, (b) identify key features of immersive virtual environments that optimize SAD treatment, and (c) examine the evolving role of therapists in virtual settings, including their impact on the therapeutic process and integration with traditional methods. A qualitative methodology is employed, including focus groups and structured questionnaire. Eleven Italian psychotherapists, six females and five males, aged 28 to 39 (mean age of 31.18), participated in virtual reality (VR) exposure sessions. Two different applications are involved in the study: one leveraging metaverse-based environments and another confined to closed VR settings. Results revealed that participants perceived the integration of these technologies into clinical practice as beneficial, emphasizing the importance of realistic and customizable scenarios in facilitating systematic desensitization. Also challenges emerged, including initial technical difficulties, concerns about data privacy, and the necessity for professional supervision when use in clinical settings. Moreover, participants suggested that the active involvement of therapists is crucial to ensure the safe and effective implementation of these innovative tools in clinical practice. These findings highlight the transformative potential of metaverse-based environments in SAD treatment while underscoring the need for clear clinical protocols, adequate training, and further longitudinal studies to evaluate long-term effectiveness.