Ornithophobia Exposure Therapy VR

This VR application allows people to have easy access to exposure therapy for ornithophobia. It places the patient in a virtual world where they have control over bird number and behaviour.

Exposure therapy is one of the best ways to treat phobias[1]. Exposure therapy is a multistep process in which the patient is slowly exposed to there fear. Therapy may begin with something as simple as visualisation or drawing of their fear, then progress towards images or being exposed to the real thing.

Virtual reality can be used to replace or bridge between some of these steps. It can be used to enhance exposure therapy[2]. While simulations using the traditional tv screen might be a good first step, VR is a much more realistic experience because the user will be placed inside the computer-generated content, not sitting in the real content world looking in. Patients can be more willing to try virtual reality than going straight to their real-world phobia. Patients can feel a sense of safety knowing that it is not real. They are also more accepting that virtual reality might help them overcome their fear, unlike methods such as imaginal exposure[3]. Virtual reality will also give the therapist more control over the environment and allow them to better cater therapy towards the patient[3].

Someone with ornithophobia may be afraid a specific bird types, taxidermy birds, photos, feather or the sounds they make[4]. In some cases, people fear being swooped by birds. This application address some of these fears: bird type, bird sounds and swooping birds.