Next-generation counseling virtual reality as a transformative tool for immersive psychological therapy

  • alzet Rama 
    Universitas Negeri Padang
    Indonesia
  • Wiki Lofandri
    Universitas Negeri Padang
    Indonesia
  • anggi Firmanjaya Saputra
    Universitas Negeri Padang
    Indonesia

Abstract

The rapid evolution of immersive technologies has created new opportunities for innovation in psychological counseling. This article investigates Virtual Reality (VR) as a transformative tool for next-generation counseling, emphasizing its potential to deliver immersive psychological therapy tailored to digital natives. Unlike conventional face-to-face approaches, VR enables controlled, interactive, and safe therapeutic environments that enhance emotional presence, reduce stigma, and improve treatment adherence. Recent studies (2021–2025) highlight VR’s effectiveness in addressing anxiety, phobias, post-traumatic stress, and stress regulation, while also demonstrating its promise for preventive and educational mental health practices. This study employs a systematic literature review supported by pilot case observations to assess the effectiveness and limitations of VR-based counseling. Findings reveal that immersive VR experiences can strengthen client–counselor engagement, foster motivation, and personalize therapeutic pathways through adaptive scenarios and real-time feedback. Moreover, the integration of VR aligns with the vision of Society 5.0, in which human-centered technology addresses complex psychological and social challenges. The study contributes to the growing discourse on digital mental health by positioning VR not merely as a supplementary medium but as a paradigm shift in counseling practice. Future research directions include the development of scalable VR platforms for clinical, educational, and community-based interventions, alongside critical considerations of accessibility, ethics, and long-term psychological outcomes

Keywords
  • Virtual Reality Counseling, Immersive Psychological Therapy, Digital Mental Health, Next-Generation Counseling, Virtual Reality in Psychology, Society 5.0 and Mental Health, Digital Natives and Counseling Innovation
Lisensing Information
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References
  1. Chirico, A., Maiorano, P., Indovina, P., Milanese, C., & Gaggioli, A. (2022). Mediating mindfulness-based interventions with virtual reality in non-clinical populations: The state-of-the-art. Healthcare, 10(7), 1220. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10071220
  2. Djordjevic, M., Miljacic, K., & Lipovac, M. (2023). Mental health professionals’ attitudes towards virtual reality therapies: A systematic review. Journal of Technology in Behavioral Science. https://doi.org/10.1007/s41347-023-00499-x
  3. Emmelkamp, P. M. G., & Meyerbröker, K. (2021). Virtual reality therapy in mental health. Annual Review of Clinical Psychology, 17, 495–519. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-clinpsy-081219-115923
  4. Graham, W., Drinkwater, R., Kelson, J., & Kabir, M. A. (2025). Self-guided virtual reality therapy for anxiety: A systematic review. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2501.17375
  5. Hatta, M. H., Sidi, H., Siew Koon, C., Che Roos, N. A., Sharip, S., Abdul Samad, F. D., … & Mohamed Saini, S. (2022). Virtual reality technology for treatment of mental health problems during COVID-19: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(9), 5389. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19095389
  6. Khdir, R. A., & Çerkez, Y. (2024). Virtual reality’s efficacy in assessing and treating phobias and PTSD: A literature review. American Journal of Psychiatric Rehabilitation, 28(5), 466. https://doi.org/10.69980/ajpr.v28i5.466
  7. Liu, Y., & Zhang, T. (2025). Using virtual reality technology to treat adolescent and young adult depression disorder: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Discover Psychology, 5, 58. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44202-025-00384-x
  8. Pedram, S., & Piatkowski, T. (2025). Exploring the potential of virtual reality in mental healthcare: A systematic literature review. Virtual Reality, 29, 135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10055-025-01181-6
  9. Riley, J., Smolenski, D., Norr, A., Katz, A., & Rothbaum, B. O. (2021). Does virtual reality increase emotional engagement during exposure for PTSD? Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 61, 75–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2018.06.001
  10. Saredakis, D., Szpak, A., Birckhead, B., Keage, H., Rizzo, A., & Loetscher, T. (2022). Factors associated with virtual reality sickness in head-mounted displays: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 16, 956069. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2022.956069
  11. Tsamitros, N., Beck, A., Sebold, M., Schouler-Ocak, M., Bermpohl, F., Gutwinski, S., … & Melchers, R. R. (2023). Impact of virtual reality applications in the treatment of anxiety disorders: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Der Nervenarzt, 94(1), 27–33. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00115-022-01378-z
  12. Veling, W., Morina, N., Linden, D. E., & Emmelkamp, P. (2021). The promise of virtual reality for the assessment and treatment of mental disorders. World Psychiatry, 20(2), 197–208. https://doi.org/10.1002/wps.20826
  13. Wiederhold, B. K., & Riva, G. (2022). Virtual reality therapy: Emerging topics and future challenges. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25(1), 3–6. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2021.29234.editorial
  14. Wiebe, A., Kannen, K., Selaskowski, B., Pramme, L., Pensel, M. C., & Guth, M. (2022). Virtual reality in the diagnosis and therapy of mental disorders: A systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review, 98, 102213. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2022.102213
  15. Wu, J., Zhang, Y., & Zhou, C. (2024). Virtual reality-assisted mindfulness-based interventions for stress and anxiety reduction: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 15, 1276543. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1276543
  16. Xu, W., Wang, Y., Li, Z., & Sun, J. (2023). Virtual reality interventions for post-traumatic stress disorder: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 160, 220–230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2023.09.015
  17. Yoon, S. Y., Kim, H., & Park, J. H. (2022). Virtual reality as a counseling tool for adolescents with social anxiety: A pilot study. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 25(10), 657–664. https://doi.org/10.1089/cyber.2021.0331
  18. Zarei, T., Emery, M., Saredakis, D., Lee, G. A., Stubbs, B., Szpak, A., & Loetscher, T. (2024). Being there together for health: A systematic review on immersive collaborative virtual environments in health applications. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2412.04760
  19. Zeng, W., Xu, J., Yu, J., & Chu, X. (2025). Effectiveness of virtual reality therapy in the treatment of anxiety disorders in adolescents and adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 16, 1553290. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2025.1553290
  20. Zhang, L., Li, H., & Chen, Y. (2023). Virtual reality exposure therapy for generalized anxiety disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 163, 104214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2023.104214

Downloads

PDF

Statistic

Abstract Views
: 0 times
PDF
: 0 times