The Use of Virtual Reality to Treat Mental Health, Particularly Anxiety Disorders

This session will provide an overview of common anxiety presentations within the context of a cognitive-behavioral model of symptom maintenance. Joshua Kemp, PhD, will also detail a function-based approach to assessment and treatment planning. Treatment discussion will focus on the principles of exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), starting first with hierarchy development, exposure implementation, and troubleshooting. From his discussion of exposure-based CBT principles he will then discuss the literature supporting the use of virtual reality (VR) as an adjunct component to effective exposure delivery. He will characterize the state of the current VR treatment literature and highlight the steps for integrating VR into treatment delivery, including online resource to get started. Finally, we will discuss some of the research he has conducted to develop and validate a VR training platform for provides learning to deliver exposure therapy with their clients.

Speakers

Joshua Kemp, PhD, is a clinical psychologist in the pediatric anxiety research center (PARC) at Bradley Hospital, innovation officer in the department of office research at Brown University Health, and an assistant professor in the department of psychiatry and human behavior at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Kemp’s research focuses on training interventions to increase the dissemination of high-quality exposure therapy or individuals with anxiety disorders in community mental health settings. He has secured several National Institute of Mental Health grant awards, including Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer awards aimed at commercializing promising virtual reality (VR) training innovations. Dr. Kemp has extensive experience treating individuals with anxiety disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder across the age spectrum and at all levels of care from outpatient to residential. His treatment approach is centered on exposure-based CBT.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants should be able to:

• Explain the principles of exposure therapy and its effectiveness in treating anxiety disorders, including specific techniques and mechanisms that contribute to symptom reduction.
• Evaluate the role of virtual reality (VR) in exposure therapy, including how VR programs can enhance treatment delivery by providing controlled and immersive exposure experiences for clients.
• Identify practical considerations and future directions for integrating VR-assisted exposure therapy into clinical practice, including accessibility and technological advancements.

Details

The target audience for this presentation is psychologists, physicians, social workers and other interested health care professionals.

This presentation has been approved for 3.0 CE hours/credits (see below).

Registration

Program fee: $49

Online registration closes on Wednesday, May 21.

For refund/cancellation information, please email [email protected] or call Mayra Colon at 401-606-5753.

Register online

Credit Details

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of Rhode Island Hospital and Bradley Hospital. Rhode Island Hospital is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education.

Rhode Island Hospital designates this activity for a maximum of 3.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s). Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Rhode Island Hospital is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Rhode Island Hospital maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

CEUs for this event have been submitted, pending approval by the National Board for Social Work (NASW), designating this activity for a maximum of 3.0 continuing education credits for certified counselors, marriage, and family therapists.

Bradley Conference is designed to provide education for psychologists, social workers, physicians, nurses, certified counselors, speech/language and occupational therapists, teachers, milieu associates, and other professionals who work with children, adolescents, or adults.  Topics address different behavioral health populations and treatment modalities and are intended to provide practical, state-of-the-art information.

Bradley Hospital’s clinical expertise, internationally renowned research, and academic affiliation with The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University make the hospital a unique resource in all areas of behavioral health care.  We have designed a wide range of learning experiences to provide the training that behavioral health care professionals need to stay at the forefront of their fields.

There is no known commercial support for this program.