by Mayra Coruh
VRforHealth is delighted to publish this first blog article by Guest Editor Mayra Coruh, a Cognitive Science major at Pomona College who answered our call for contributors. Mayra has been delving deep into the therapeutic benefits of Virtual Reality, a topic dear to our hearts at VRforHealth and we are very grateful for this excellent contribution. Denise Silber
Virtual Reality art therapy creates a digital space where users can experience a different type of sensory engagement…
Exploring the Intersection of Art Therapy and Virtual Reality in Rehabilitation
Virtual Reality (VR) offers new ways to engage patients in immersive environments that facilitate healing and personal growth. One particularly promising application of VR is its integration with art therapy—a field that has long utilized the creative process to foster emotional and cognitive awareness. This blog post explores how art therapy is being adapted to VR therapy, the unique advantages it offers, and the underlying mechanisms that make it effective.
The Role of Art Therapy in VR: A Sensory and Embodied Experience
Art therapy has always emphasized the connection between mind and body. According to Machiodi (2020), the sensory nature of art allows individuals to become more aware of their somatic sensations, enhancing body-kinesthetic intelligence (Hadijipanayi et al., 20231). This connection is central to art therapy’s therapeutic benefits, and it’s a key reason why art therapy has begun to find a place in the growing field of digital therapeutics (DTx), including VR therapy.
Traditional art therapy involves tactile interactions with materials, while VR art therapy creates a digital space where users can experience a different type of sensory engagement. This difference in sensory experiences makes embodiment—the sense of owning and controlling a body—particularly important in VR art therapy. Achieving a strong sense of embodiment is crucial for effective therapy because it allows the user to maintain a sense of presence and control in a virtual space (Hadijipanayi et al., 2023).
The Power of Presence and Immersion in VR Art Therapy
The sense of presence is foundational to the effectiveness of VR therapy. When users feel fully immersed in a virtual environment, they experience a stronger connection between their sensory-motor actions and the virtual world (Zeevi et al., 20212). In the context of VR art therapy, this enhanced presence makes the process of artistic creation more intense and meaningful. Embodied expression, which integrates users’ physical movements and gestures with their emotional and cognitive experiences, plays a crucial role in this process (Hadijipanayi et al., 2023). This embodied approach helps users feel more connected to their virtual bodies, fostering a deeper therapeutic engagement during their sessions.
Moreover, the experiential nature of VR acts as an “advanced imaginal system” (Zeevi et al., 2021). This means that VR’s ability to create lifelike visualizations allows users to engage deeply with their emotions, making it an effective tool for psychotherapy. This is particularly beneficial for patients—both those with and without specific diagnoses—who seek personal transformation and self-reflectiveness.
How the Proteus Effect Enhances VR Art Therapy
One interesting phenomenon that comes into play in VR art therapy is the Proteus Effect, which suggests that individuals’ behaviors and attitudes can be influenced by the characteristics of their avatars (virtual representations). For example, embodying a child-like virtual body in VR can shift users’ cognitive processes, allowing them to experience the world from a child’s perspective (Zeevi et al., 2021). This has significant implications for VR art therapy, as it allows users to explore different aspects of their identity or desired states, facilitating self-exploration, empathy development, and perspective-taking (Hadijipanayi et al., 2023). These shifts can be especially valuable for those exploring deeply rooted emotional challenges.
Embodied Simulation and the Michelangelo Effect: Connecting Art and Motor Rehabilitation
Beyond emotional and cognitive benefits, VR art therapy also holds promise in neurorehabilitation. Embodied simulation involves activating sensory-motor experiences through VR, which can aid in motor learning and cognitive rehabilitation (Hadijipanayi et al., 2023). This is where the Michelangelo Effect comes into play, suggesting that creating art in a VR environment can stimulate the visual-motor mirror neuron system, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with motor impairments. As a result, VR art therapy can improve motor skills, coordination, and sensorimotor abilities, making it a versatile tool in both psychological and physical rehabilitation.
Perspective Shifts and the Therapeutic Potential of VR Art Therapy
One of the unique advantages of VR is the ability to offer users multiple perspectives within a 360° virtual environment (Zeevi et al., 2021). By manipulating the visual and motor perspectives, users can experience changes in their thought patterns, social attitudes, and cognitive processing. This flexibility in perspective-taking can help break down stereotyped thinking and foster greater self-compassion and motivation. Such shifts in perception are at the heart of the therapeutic potential of VR art therapy, as they allow patients to reframe their experiences and engage more deeply in their own healing process.
Conclusion: A New Frontier for Art Therapy in Virtual Reality
As virtual reality continues to evolve, its integration with art therapy represents a powerful new approach to treatment, offering both emotional and physical rehabilitation benefits. By leveraging the immersive, embodied nature of VR, therapists can provide a more interactive and personalized therapeutic experience. From fostering a sense of presence to encouraging perspective shifts through the Proteus Effect, VR art therapy holds great promise for those seeking innovative paths to healing and self-discovery.
- Hadjipanayi, C., Banakou, D., & Michael-Grigoriou, D. (2023). Art as therapy in virtual reality: A scoping review. Frontiers in Virtual Reality, 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/frvir.2023.1065863
↩︎ - Shamri Zeevi, L. (2021). Making Art Therapy Virtual: Integrating Virtual Reality Into Art Therapy With Adolescents. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, 584943. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.584943 ↩︎
