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Foundations of Virtual Reality Exposure TherapyLesson 6 of 50

Virtual Reality vs Imaginal Exposure: Differences & Benefits

1:39

Kim Bullock, MDKim Bullock, MDClinical Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University

Lesson summary

VR acts as a bridge between imaginal and in-vivo exposure — a 'prosthetic for the imagination' for anxious clients who can't easily picture a feared scenario. Compared with real-life exposure, VR guarantees the same stimulus every time, can be titrated and repeated conveniently, and gives both clinician and client more control.

Key learning points

  • Consistent, controllable, repeatable stimuli
  • A bridge from imaginal to in-vivo work
  • Support when clients struggle to visualise