Tag Archives: innovation

Empathy Through Virtual Reality

Posted by: Sherry Law on September 22, 2015 12:51 pm

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As a virtual reality (VR) enthusiast, I have seen first hand demonstrations which encourage empathy. Computer graphics is sophisticated enough where facial expressions of avatars are believable, and if you pay attention to video games which focus on story/narrative, then you can see that context of avatars can be deep, meaningful, and nuanced, reflecting real people and real situations. These characters and their stories can be powerful enough to elicit deep emotions, not unlike how poetry or song can. However, because VR includes visual, audio, and contextual stimulus, the emotions rely less on interpretation, and instead are directly administered through the story telling and the expressiveness of the characters and environment which surround the observer.

Empathy, the ability to understand or share the feelings of others, is a powerful tool that all therapists employ. As a skill, it serves to help therapists navigate through the challenges that a client may be facing. Empathy is critical in client care for its ability to create a therapeutic alliance bound by understanding. Not only can empathy directly impact the therapeutic relationship, it can impact a therapist’s practice by reducing bias, prejudice, and conflict within the therapist from which they can develop and improve their practice. Due to the importance of this skill, developing empathy is a significant focus for many health professionals. Traditional ways of developing therapeutic skills include workshops, conferences, lectures, reading, and field experience. Although these methods have been invaluable and cannot be replaced, what VR could offer in the future is a streamlined, safe, and efficient way to learn and practice therapeutic skills, but also to tinker with our social interactions in a digital vacuum.

Once computer graphics, story-telling, and VR merge, you can have in the palm of your hands a powerful experience that is convincing on a human level. Imagine the avatars reacting to your movements, and paying attention to your actions and reactions to them. Imagine the avatars being able to express without even speaking, simply by using their facial expressions. Imagine having text boxes popping up to explain the reaction of the avatar and why they may have occurred, and more importantly, what you have done to contribute to such a response. What VR can provide is the isolation of these human expressions and an interactive environment from which to build empathy and tinker with social behaviour in a safe and insulated way.

As a practicing counsellor, I can see immense benefits in being able to interact with an avatar to test therapeutic methods. Given some context, how will the avatar react if I did this, said that, or looked away? Of course, the reactions of the avatar rely solely on the ability of the programmer to predict how a human would respond. Once health professionals become part of the development for these programs and experiences, much more can be expected of them.




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Moore’s Law

Posted by: Sherry Law on June 8, 2015 1:40 pm

Moore’s law is an observation of exponential improvement in digital technology both due to the accumulating effect of research and development, and also the falling consumer cost of products. This describes a trend that we have been witnessing for the past few decades, and the explanation to our increasingly digital life style as Canadians. Computers used to be the size of trailer homes and very costly, convincing people that it was impossible that the computer would ever be a mainstream consumer product. The average person today carries with them more computer power in their pocket than was used during the Apollo missions to put humans on the moon. So what does this have to do with counselling and psychotherapy?

A new fleet of wearable technologies will be saturating the markets in the coming years. These technologies have great implications for how we interact with our world and with each other. Virtual reality (VR) can become one of those technologies which revolutionizes psychotherapy. VR is typically experienced through a head-mounted device and gives the user the experience of presence, a phenomenon whereby the user is convinced they are in a place other than reality, regardless of their conscious acknowledgment that what they are witnessing is not real. Once a person puts on one of these headsets, they are transported into an entirely crafted digital world . The programmable nature of digital technology means that a user can exist anywhere in reality, and in fantasy. A person can experience the thrill and excitement of a 100 foot high roller coaster, and moments later, be visibly shaken, left alone in a claustrophobic series of hallways and crypts. One can soar gracefully through space observing spiral galaxies to an accompanying orchestra, or simply relax within a virtual cinema with friends and family connected through the internet. Due to VR’s powerful impact, it has the potential to provide convincing therapeutic tools to aid in many therapies which rely on visualization, such as therapies to help manage phobias, anxieties, depression, and even mindfulness training for relaxation, among others.

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*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA

Is There an App for Mental Health?

Posted by: Sherry Law on May 6, 2015 8:00 am

As Canadians, one system that distinguishes us from other nations is our universal health care provision. Canada invests in its people, taking care of the sick or wounded displaying our values of equity and solidarity. Though our heart may be in the right place, the road to equitable provision of all facets of health care is difficult and complicated, with financial, political, and social barriers leaving many Canadians underserviced. In 2012, Statistics Canada revealed that 1.6million Canadians requiring mental health services found that help was unavailable or insufficient. A majority of this demographic indicated that failure of the health care system was due to budget cuts or lack of accessibility, or personal circumstances such as social stigma and scheduling conflicts.LawPost

As counsellors and therapists, we wish that all Canadians can access sufficient mental health services, but how can we satisfy the great demand of mental health needs when there are so many kinks in the system?

Information technology (IT) has captured every aspect of daily life. Shopping, banking, networking, research, and a multitude of other activities can be done online. Due to its ease of access, portability, and shrinking barrier of entry, people from all walks of life and social economic backgrounds can access these resources. Furthermore, IT has pushed the boundaries in all fields, leading to a global change in business, governance, and communication. Continue reading




*The views expressed by our authors are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the CCPA