Therapists Are Using VR Headsets To Cure Phobias (HBO)

VICE News correspondent Dexter Thomas is absolutely terrified of heights. A tiny startup called Limbix thinks they can cure him with a VR headset.
Now that virtual reality is getting cheaper, it’s becoming a more accessible option for use in exposure therapy. It allows, for example, a therapist to take their patient to a plane, or a cave full of spiders, or a street corner where they were mugged ten years ago - all without the cost and danger of “in vivo” treatment.
Dexter Thomas went to Palo Alto to test out what some people are hoping will be the next big thing in therapy.
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Virtual reality immerses you in your fears to help you conquer them. Watch next: Inmates Are Using VR For A Chance To Get Out Of Prison - bit.ly/2ERYvN1 Subscribe to VICE News here: bit.ly/Subscribe-to-VICE-News

[@jfo8226]

VICE News “redacted”

[@kassiedabs13]

If Dexter follows thru with these sessions, can you please give us an update on how they went? I'd love to know if they worked for him or not. Thanks to everyone at Vice!

[@EinkOLED]

His hair doesn't have a fear of heights.

[@YoungLegend07]

Lmaoooi

[@ShadyShakra]

Underrated comment

[@krcrk]

Gerald from Hey Arnold is all grown up

[@dexdigi]

@Dam Jackass nah, I'm good but thanks

[@elcuycuy3992]

racist

[@litojonny]

i have a VR headset phobia

[@FerreusNRG]

Don't worry, we'll start with Gameboy game and gradually move to Wii and finally to VR.

[@softmilk9447]

he looks like fresh from subway surfers 💀

[@isabelkree2126]

Next thing you know *vr doctors*

[@jonesynahmeen9088]

I wonder how good this works. I have a serious fear of heights.

[@PantsB4Squares]

jonesynahmeen i did too. I conquered it by rock climbing. It wasn't easy it took about a year and being 1000ft up on a vertical wall with nothing under me to break my fear and feeling of vertigo. Best way to conquer fears is attack them head on. I see why virtual reality may help but in actuality you know your not really there. An experience for real may just shoot you back to square one

[@kumquatninja]

Look up systematic desensitisation

[@SidV101]

Exposure therapy is a legit thing with pretty high effectiveness, if you have the money and the inclination you should look into it

[@nlkg7942]

@@PantsB4Squares 80% of the people don't have phobia anymore after the app

[@TheSlaveofAlmighty]

The first thing came into my mind when I heard about VR technology was this idea of treating phobias...

[@banetstoy8825]

Wow

[@Zazuban]

I wonder how expensive it is to have this form of "Therapy" which is essentially just watching 360 videos with a vr headset. I can just do that from home with youtube...

[@blueberrybandit2388]

Keep in mind that a 360 video on a normal screen is not going to give you any sense of being there. VR will give you the perception of depth, just like real life. That's why you can tell just how high up you are in VR.

[@ItchyKneeSon]

Not to mention the support of a professional at your side.

[@VarjoViulu]

It is actually legitimate. This is the same as exposure therapy. Here you also have a professional with you to guide you through it. The exposure part is only one half of the therapy. It is usually paired with cognitive behavioral therapy. KZbin does not offer that part. Also saying that you could do it without someone else does not mean you would e.g. People who have a fear of elevators could just get into one to solve their problems but that won't happen.

[@GG-ou7it]

Blueberry Bandit he could purchase his own headset for his PC and by the time this becomes a mainstream therapy it will be more affordable

[@JewTube001]

if you dont have the cash for it, then yeah do your own therapy

[@MrSpaztastic23]

I fear people...

[@jayfolk]

buy a dog. move to the woods.

[@lux1975]

Boo

[@sleepyrowdy1826]

Play vr chat

[@STE4LYOURFACE]

I hope game developers see this and rip it off as much as possible for a higher availability to the public, and the price wouldn’t be as outrageous.

[@josephplath8752]

Same here

[@notcorpse]

A while ago I had the thought that VR could be used for phobia's, that's awesome! lol

[@ButerWarrior44]

same

[@TrevorEst1994]

hes like i never would have thought of public speaking thats the first thing i thought of

[@ModeVR]

Interesting use of VR... wonder how well it works.

[@gregorv4172]

daamn, I have also had that feeling he was describing in the beginning, of being afraid of jumping off buildings. I have never heard anyone else talk about it, but i also have OCD symptoms and always felt like they were responsible for that. Such an interesting relief to hear someone else talk about it, although i have no idea what form of OCD it would be defined as.

[@face-in-the-crowd]

So you have an impulse to jump?

[@stantheheadhumongous9402]

>be me >a vice interviewer >afraid of height af >has hair as tall as Eiffel Tower >life is hard right?

[@katemiller3796]

0:53 totally think it could be OCD. This happens to me alot especially when standing waiting for the subway or on high bridge

[@gavinhelgeson2880]

I have a phobia of V.R. ...how do I cure that?

[@vs4544]

Gavin Helgeson you put on a VR headset in which you play a character who puts on a VR headset

[@ianturnbow7011]

Exposure therapy to the headsets. BLAM!

[@hamzamohamed6954]

Eat pizza 😁👌🍕

[@mrhotpinkbanana1081]

1:45 Why won't my social anxiety go away then.

[@ButerWarrior44]

GRADUAL exposure.

[@ThatBlackPiano]

They used VR tech years ago....in the TV show, Shameless! 🤗

[@ianturnbow7011]

I back this. Exposure therapy is incredibly effective for phobias and anxieties.

[@cristina5507]

Thank you for sharing that’s how I always have felt to with heights since I was a child like if I would jump off

[@zola.p3716]

using vr technology to overcome phobias is a brilliant idea

[@areebahussain7839]

Hello, can anyone tell me on which Softwares these Virtual Reality scenes are made? I am making these for a project

[@BREEP.]

I can’t drive without my throat closing up. But I can play hella Mario cart. Maybe I need VR

[@deyanirasilverio650]

How would someone prepare to work for a project like this? I am currently majoring in Psychology but I love the new addition of technology and would love to work in this field. If anyone knows pls lmk I will also be researching this! This is amazing!!!

[@ShinjiIkari007]

In my opinion, this therapy would be more effective if the VR also had headsets with realistic environmental sounds like when he was at top of the bridge he should be able to listen to wind sounds or something. Also he shouldn't just be sitting on the sofa, he should be walking with the VR on. You have to make it as realistic as possible. Engage as many senses as possible, not just the eyes. Only then he will be able to overcome the fear irl.

[@copythekat]

3:35 if I were on that bridge irl I would just run of

[@XSpImmaLion]

Some interesting stuff... I remember watching a video on VR therapy right in early stages of Oculus Rift... or maybe it was even before that, with regards to arachnophobia.

[@tithund]

Now do one with someone with arachnophobia and spiders filmed from a bug's perspective.

[@lighterzide7157]

That guy has the same fear as me not the heights itself, falling from a height

[@marinaneww4676]

Dang i thought i was the only one who thought about heights like that. Its really scary the thought that you could just jump off without even controlling your body at all

[@deltasworder1x]

I'd love to back and maybe work as a programmer or tester for this ^^.

[@durzoblint6532]

Kinda like virtual exposure therapy. Obvious for things like fear of heights, but also safe in cases like fear of dogs more claustrophobia.

[@iheartearl]

I’m scared of clowns-

[@neo.olliee]

Me 2

[@saschagraubaer]

Imagine this now with actually better glasses than those mobile phone headsets

[@MrOrthopedia]

I actually had a dream of VR exposure therapy sessions.

[@hollyh3431]

i have a fear of the ocean. it’s only when i can’t see beneath me and i start flailing and i feel like i’m going to be pulled under. it’s caused many panic attacks but i went water skiing and didn’t realise i could fall of in the ocean. i fell off in the ocean and i got was so scared but the only thing i could do was swim. i have never swam faster in my life and it was very very scary. another one of my biggest fears is driving next to big lorries. i don’t drive yet but even being in a car next to a lorry make me very very panicked and scared

[@melloe]

my bf has that exact same phobia....def needs this

[@Atlantis777_]

i really would like to try that therapy.. I have a terrible phobia of blood and I really want to be able to do my own medication shots :/

[@John-nb1ri]

I've seen this method in the anime Ald Noah Zero where the doctor uses a virtual reality simulation for a soldier's PTSD.

[@radiohead7519]

i want this for claustrophobia

[@bignatec1000]

This feels like it could be a black mirror episode

[@harenokaori]

I need the driving one oooomg

[@fiddlelab]

Reminds me of Divergent

[@PBHProductions]

I HAVE THAT EXACT SANE FEAR!

[@otterwoods8881]

Well at least i know im not the only one who feels like im going to jump off or get blown away in high places lol

[@PBHProductions]

I am!

[@indhu6203]

My fear is alone traveling

[@hotsauceanimations8906]

Can it cure Arachnophobia (fear of spiders and other arachnids)

[@cherosno]

Hm, I wanna use this to help with my socializing phobia

[@BettyAlexandriaPride]

Initially, I was interested by the thumbnail. Then, a few seconds in, I thought this was stupid, reinforced by the virtual bridge. 18 seconds in, and I broke down in tears thinking of someone doing something like that to me. I'm extremely familiar with exposure therapy due to a fatal car accident I survived. However, I have phobias that weren't accident related and therefore not addressed. I'm glad I let go of my judgmental opinion and that I became open to something that could really help people... and myself.

[@dexdigi]

Wow, that's really powerful. Thanks so much for watching, and for sharing that.

[@justinmartin8056]

I have that same exact fear wtf

[@Nekminute]

Watch russians leap on top of skyscrapers and cranes you ll be jumping in no time

[@jing2404]

I wish i can cure all of my phobias cuz it is too much and it is a not a scared- emotion but it is like- panic attack-

[@mrhotpinkbanana1081]

Did anyone piss themselfs or fainted during the VR therapy.

[@gachaicescream7049]

3:18 saw whats written

[@333335339]

I have serious phobia of spiders. Re4 remake VR traumatized me

[@fuqupal]

What? Kid from House Party 30 years later in therapy?

[@AllGamingStarred]

I suffer from: Acrophobia Arachnophibia Tachophobia (fear of high speeds) Anxiety How VR will scar me for life Being stuck in a falling car going 200MPH with spiders everywhere...that was pushed off of the ISS station, then It tells me the car will blow up on impact 0_0

[@Da-Sage]

Right now after watching stranger things I'm scared of my surrondings while inside of vr

[@saranox7319]

I‘m phobic of a specific person...

[@arcane4252]

this feels fake like how are you going to compare a vr set to the actual thing smh

[@DirectorxMizuki]

arcane it’s called gradual exposure. VR is the step before real life ~

[@arcane4252]

Wow so discriptive wanna be my vocabulary teacher please.?¿

[@arvindthevaraju9866]

I fear of heights, planes and trains. Will this help

[@patrickg757]

I fell safe in a plane if I’m controlling it, I’m not really scared of heights but, that the structure will collapse. I’m not scared of trains. If I’m not controlling a plane I’m not scared of the height, but of an engine failing, pilot dying, etc

[@satinrose3827]

U know what's weird? I'm afraid u public speaking standing up, but if im sitting down with everyone in a panel interview environment I do well... strange...does anyone's feel that way???

[@MarshalofFrance]

I got stage fright so I welcome this therapy.

[@stonedcoldchillerk7780]

He is bullshitting. Lool at him leaning on the wall. My gf would never do that.

[@sebg6865]

Very interesting way to socialize humans. This is the start of a new age.

[@TheRealWilliamm]

a fear of heights is not irrational? not a phobia ?

[@JewTube001]

the way it manifests can be pretty irrational. like you if you think you're going to fall off just because. i dont think there was any chance he was going to fall off that building when doing the interview

[@TheRealWilliamm]

the way anything manifests can be irrational?

[@varunvarun8267]

Does we can cure thunderstorm phobia with this

[@teppisekasi5471]

really... does this really work?

[@ir0n2541]

I have a phobia of phobias

[@lindspalmer5637]

I know this vid is from 2018 but..... So many people are talking about how great this would be for commercial use, but that's such a bad idea! If you have a serious phobia, this could cause a lot more harm than help if not used correctly. Virtual reality therapy is meant to be done in a session with a counselor that you talk you through the scenarios and how you're feeling. They also are the ones providing the actual therapy! Just exposing yourself to fear won't do anything impactful. The therapist is trained and can help you get to the root of the problem. I had no idea why I was afraid of bees, turns out it was a boundary thing and I had issues from childhood adoptive trauma. You think putting on a VR headset and being surrounded by bees would have taught me that? I hope this comment was just hostile enough to get you to seek reason.

[@oofoof1375]

There's spiders in here aren't there..

[@hang-the-elite2940]

this is crazy!

[@spicychef3457]

Why is Gerald Afraid of Heights?

[@KingPurcival]

I have this!

[@danielul05]

Can't the therapist do something about this guy's hair?

[@dexdigi]

It's stuck like this, unfortunately, but thanks for the concern

[@Lolita4r]

very nice

[@kamrenwalker]

Black mirror anyone? 🧐🤨

[@dhamedina]

And giving spankings too. Seriously, spank therapy is a thing.

[@justthatnoodle]

I’m not worried I’m gonna jump off a building no I’m worried it’s gonna fall over taking me with it looking down something tall like a building or mountain can scare me looking up a skyscraper scares and can make me dizzy as well I’ve even had dreams about it and I had trouble standing because of that

[@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

Go play VRChat for about 15 minutes with your mic live. If it doesn't cure your social anxiety issues, then you probably died in the attempt

[@tuvawall9295]

Divergent?

[@Sunshine12Norain]

trial those those love it

[@47chromeAKs]

I have a phobia for VR Headsets. What now?

[@wgoddota]

black mirror lol

[@Banininator]

Walrusasauras OMGG

[@CrescimoneMatt]

Same thought. Although I think this technology looks amazing and is totally worth the possible benefits. But I can imagine a world where...actually...you don't even need this company for people to use it unethically. People who design VR games could already do this on their own to desensitize themselves from whatever they wanted if they had an understanding of how exposure therapy works.

[@JewTube001]

this looks more like white mirror to me

[@sofheaqz2976]

Hwos hree form agt

[@dk5167]

I have a Phobia of having sex for the first time XD

[@plokijuh5830]

I wish I could relive that. When it happens just let it happen naturally. All your ancestors got laid you can too. And don’t watch so much porn cause it gives you performance anxiety and sex is usually not even close to porn

[@hellobot67]

I have sexual anxiety. Do they have something for that. Lol no joke.

[@jayfolk]

fear of self preservation lobe failure, the organ of the brain stopping you from jumping off an edge, grabbing a snake you know is venomous; fight or flight.

[@CrescimoneMatt]

lol it's much more likely what the doctor mentioned - very possibly a symptom of OCD (i.e. intrusive thoughts).

[@kumquatninja]

No such thing as self preservation lobe in the brain lmao

[@plokijuh5830]

jay folk The frontal lobes will check your impulses but aren’t solely responsible for self-preservation. That’s a much more basic function that even animals and insects without frontal lobes have.

[@6bodys360]

1$t

[@MoralistaDefinitivo]

Hey could I get one of those for Islam? Thx

[@terminal4671]

what about homophobia

[@Thecatnipproject]

finnaly somehting they can use to cure homophobia and transphobia at least in the west

[@PantsB4Squares]

Thecatnipproject your name says "thepussynippleproject" to me

[@jayfolk]

or you could grow self confidence, feel fine in your own fears and skin, not let peoples opnions effect you, and if their ideas differ, not try to conform society to how you want it to be.

[@Thecatnipproject]

well maybe its because transphobia has gotten alot of my kind killed over the years

[@tizschnitz1869]

Thats oppressive. They will be traumatized. shame on you Vice