TheraVR for Children and Adolescents

Mental health

Pilot or new project, program, or initiative (testing or implementing a new idea)

Adolescents are increasingly absorbed in screen-based activities, with boys diving into video games and girls favoring social media. Video games provide an escape for many individuals, offering intriguing worlds where they can temporarily retreat from real-life challenges and insecurities. For girls, these digital realms serve as both entertainment and arenas for navigating beauty standards and negative body image issues, particularly overwhelming due to societal pressures. Some researchers argue that schools have become hostile to boys due to a rejection of their natural behaviors, including competitiveness and aggression. Therefore, researchers consistently demonstrate a link between playing violent video games and learning aggressive behavior. Social Learning Theory suggests that behavior is acquired through exposure to the environment, with individuals observing, imitating, and modeling behaviors they witness, especially those that are reinforced or rewarded.

We are dedicated to transforming the mental health landscape for impoverished youth, adults, and families through innovative and accessible therapeutic interventions. Our latest initiative harnesses the power of Virtual Reality (VR) Therapy to provide immersive, evidence-based treatments designed to address a wide range of psychological issues including anxiety, depression, peer abuse, Body Dysmorphia, PTSD, and other mental disorders. Our VR Therapy program offers a unique, engaging, and effective approach by allowing clients to safely confront and manage their stressors in a controlled, virtual environment. The program includes:
State-of-the-Art VR Equipment: to create realistic scenarios tailored to individual needs.
Trained Therapists: Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) would look for various indicators to assess and support participants effectively. They will observe the participant's emotional responses and body language within the virtual environment, noting signs of distress, anxiety, or discomfort. They would pay attention to verbal cues and participant's interaction, identifying triggers or areas of concern. Through active listening and empathetic communication, therapists will provide personalized guidance, offering coping strategies, relaxation techniques, and cognitive reframing exercises tailored to individual's needs
Accessibility: Ensuring that services are available to those in underserved communities, eliminating barriers to mental health support.

If successful, our work in Los Angeles County will lead to significant improvements in mental health outcomes for vulnerable populations. By integrating Virtual Reality Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, we aim to reduce psychological deficits, fostering a more resilient community capable of managing stress, anxiety, depression and general life situations. Our program will promote positive self-image, self-acceptance, and acceptance of others, resulting in improved academic performance, workplace productivity, and stronger family and community relationships. Teaching critical media literacy skills will enable individuals to navigate social media with mindfulness, monitoring and boosting their emotional health. Overall, our efforts will result in fewer mental health crises, increased use of healthcare technology, reduced stigma, reduce trauma, and will provide greater opportunities for personal and collective growth, ultimately enhancing the quality of life for all residents.

This is a proposed initiative project. Our plan is to start programming once we are a Fee-for-Service provider under Medi-Cal, which we anticipate by August 2024. We will also accept 15 other insurance plans. The success of the project will be evaluated through a multifaceted approach aimed at assessing the effectiveness and impact on the mental health and well-being of the participating children and adolescents. Quantitative measures will include pre-and post-intervention assessments using standardized tools to measure changes in participants' mental health symptoms and overall psychological wellness. Attendance records and participation rates will be tracked to assess program engagement and adherence. Qualitative measures will involve gathering feedback from participants, parents, and therapists through surveys and interviews to understand their experiences. This feedback will provide valuable insights into the perceived benefits, challenges faced, and suggestions for improvement.