Remote counselling has become increasingly relevant, providing accessible mental health support regardless of geographical barriers. With the rise of immersive technologies, virtual reality (VR) offers new possibilities for delivering remote counselling services, potentially transforming the therapeutic experience for both clients and practitioners.
Despite its promise, the feasibility and effectiveness of conducting remote counselling in collaborative virtual environments remain largely unexamined. Furthermore, there is limited understanding of how various factors, such as avatar appearance, virtual scene design, and the nature of client-counselor interaction, may influence therapeutic outcomes and client engagement.
This project seeks to address these gaps through empirical studies of remote counselling conducted in VR environments. We employed a mixed-method case study approach to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of delivering counselling remotely in VR.
In collaboration with the Empathic Computing Lab, we also examined how specific elements, like environmental settings, may facilitate or inhibit remote counselling experiences in VR.
Preliminary findings from this ongoing project indicate that remote counselling in VR can provide unique benefits, such as fostering a positive therapeutic alliance, enabling more expressive communication, and creating a safe and controlled therapeutic environment. By identifying and analyzing these key factors, this project aims to inform best practices for implementing remote counselling in VR, ultimately enhancing accessibility, engagement, and outcomes in mental health care.