NEW, I now offer Remote Virtual Reality Therapy Services. You can be treated while you are at your home or office- with your own equipment. I can treat you remotely. You do not have to be concerned about coming to my office, viral contamination or social distancing.
Do you live in New York State City, New York City, Long Island and even Florida and have phobias or anxieties? With the use of Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy(VRET) I can “Virtually Improve Your Life”!
I can help you overcome:
Fear of Public Speaking- from conference rooms to Keynote speeches
Fear of Driving, or being a passenger
Fear of Flying
Fear of Heights
Fear of Needles
Fear of Public Spaces
Fear of Closed Spaces( including MRI’s)
Generalized fears
Fears of health Issues
Fears of Animals and Bugs
Fear of Driving
Fear of Taking Tests
And many more phobias and anxieties
With Virtual Reality I can also improve Relaxation and assist in the enhancement of Mindfulness
For any questions, please call Dr. Howard Gurr at (631) 462-2467, (516) 785-3834 or (631) 780-4877. I can be reached by e-mail me at hgurr@drsgurr.com or go to our contact page.
I currently utilize Virtual Reality systems from Amelia VR. CLICK HERE TO SEE SAMPLES OF SOME OF THE VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS I USE TO TREAT PHOBIAS
Dr. Gurr and Virtual Reality Therapy in the news and media:
New York Times Article on Virtual Reality Therapy 6/3/021
Mobihealth News Article 10/21/2019
Dr. Howard Gurr Talks to Dr. Brian Raskin about Virtual Reality Therapy, 2019( Episode #6)
Dr. Gurr on Dr. Roy Aranda’s TV Show on Tribuna TV , 2018
Article in “The Osprey”- StonyBrook University Newspaper, 2018
Website/article on Virtual reality Therapy, 2018
R/GA Futurevision magazine, 2016
Dr. Steven Katz- Smile Potential Newsletter, 2016
Visit Virtual Reality Therapy For Phobias’s profile on Pinterest.
VIRTUALLY IMPROVING YOUR LIFE
I have been fascinated with the possibilities of using Virtual Reality Therapy to reduce phobias. For over ten years, I have been watching the evolution of Virtual Reality Therapy. Ten years ago, the cost for the equipment alone was over $100,000.00, far beyond the reach of any private practitioner. A few years later the equipment costs dropped to half of that initial price, but still beyond my capacity. About five years ago, the systems were less costly, but the software costs to develop the virtual environments were still too much. Now, with the use of cellphones and better virtual reality headsets, the capacity for VRT has become realistic for my practice.
FAQ
Why use Virtual Reality Therapy?
On average, the number of sessions needed for Virtual Reality Therapy is low, between 6 to 12 sessions. Therefore, it is faster and less expensive when compared to traditional therapy. The virtual environments are very realistic and customizable, making the exposure therapy more effective. The success rate has been reported to be approximately 90%.
How does VRT work?
In the initial session, the patient’s history is taken. The patient is taught the basics of anxiety reactions and the skills to reduce anxiety reactions. The subsequent VRT sessions follow a standard protocol and are matched to the patient’s level of tolerance. The therapist is able to monitor exactly what the patient is seeing and hearing. If the session produces too much anxiety, the patient can request to stop, return to an easier stage, or even just remove the headset to terminate the experience.
Are there any issues or problems associated with VRT?
A small percentage of the population may experience motion sickness (nausea, vomiting, ataxia, disorientation, eye strain and vertigo) due to “sensory cue incongruity”. That is due to differences between what they are perceiving in the virtual environment being different from what their body is experiencing. However, it should be noted that improvements in the lag time between the virtual images and head movements have reduced these side effects for many people.
What ages do I serve?
I work with school age children to adults of all ages.
Is VRT covered by insurance?
VRT falls under the category of Exposure Therapy. It is considered an individual therapy session. I am not on insurance panels, but I will electronically submit claims on your behalf. You will receive whatever portion of the claim your insurance company reimburses you for out-of network providers. Please note, services rendered in regard to legal cases are not reimbursable by insurance.
To see resources and links about Virtual Reality Therapy, click here.
For a Worldwide Directory of Virtual Reality Therapists click here