Avatar therapy: From couch to cyberspace

Avatar therapy: From couch to cyberspace: "

(Second Life)

Proponents of “avatar therapy” in a virtual environment such as Second Life say it has some unique advantages that take psychotherapy to the next level.

In Second Life, therapy sessions are not confined to the therapist’s virtual office; they can also involve role-play scenarios to allow the patient to practice their newly learned coping skills in virtual environments tailored to their needs.

Many of the conditions treated by face-to-face talk therapy can also be treated virtually, including depression and anxiety. Avatar therapy is proving useful for traumatic brain injury, schizophrenia and Asperger’s syndrome. Studies have shown success rates similar to those of traditional therapy for social anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, according to James Herbert, head of the anxiety treatment and research program at Drexel University.

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