CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Virtual reality is being used as another tool to overcome obsessive compulsive disorders. 

The technology transports clients to triggering environments with the help of a headset. The therapy aims to help them learn to confront their fears. 

Brandie Terifaj, a licensed clinical social worker with certified clinical anxiety treatment professional credentials, has been using virtual reality therapy with her clients since last year. 

Terifaj, who works at Solace Counseling and Consulting, used it with clients with OCD, social anxiety and phobias. For virtual patients, she uses virtual reality exclusively, and for in-person patients she uses a mix of virtual reality therapy and exposure therapy in person. 

Virtual reality therapy allows her to pick environments for her in-person and virtual clients to experience. 

The scenarios are related to their fears, including heights, spiders, contamination or flying. 

“When we start low, we are kind of teaching them how to gradually be able to tolerate it. We are building evidence and confidence as we up that hierarchy,” Terifaj said. 

Terifaj controls the environment, adjusting it accordingly. For example, for a flying scenario, this may mean adding turbulence to the plane ride. 

“We would sit in this until our distress level comes down about 50%, so we are increasing our tolerance,” Terifaj said. 

Throughout the session, she asks clients for their level of distress, and the system graphs their progress.

“We want to challenge those feeling of distress, which is manageable, and you don’t have to live with this the rest of your life,” Terifaj said. 

Terifaj said 10 of her clients have used this technology. She’s noticed it’s worked a bit better than real-life scenarios. 

“There’s no distractions. We can call them out if we notice they are avoiding looking at something specific because of that heat map,” Terifaj said. 

She hopes to reach more people with this technology, especially virtually, and help them overcome their fears.