Overview
Avatar Therapy is a therapist-assisted, computer-based intervention in which therapists facilitate a conversation between patients who are experiencing persistent persecutory auditory hallucinations (i.e. hearing voices) and a visual representation of one of the persecutory voices (i.e. the avatar).
Avatar Therapy is delivered over 6 weekly sessions, lasting about 30 minutes each. Patients use a computer program to construct a visual representation of the dominant persecutory voice and select a voice for the avatar. During therapy sessions, patients see the animated avatar on a computer screen and are asked to begin a conversation in which they stand up to the avatar. Therapists sit in another room and provide support in their normal voice and act as the avatar using a computer-transformed voice. Patients can press a red “stress button” if they become too anxious during the session, which replaces the avatar on the computer screen with a relaxing scene and music. Each session is recorded and patients receive a recording of the session on an MP3 player at the end of the session. Avatar Therapy has also been adapted to use virtual reality technology.
Delivery:
Computer-based
Clinician-assisted
Virtual reality
Theoretical Approach:
Cognitive Behavior Therapy
Target Outcome:
Persecutory auditory hallucinations
Ages:
Adolescents (11-17)
Young Adults (18-30)
Adults (30+)
Genders:
Male
Female
Races/Ethnicities:
Unspecified
Setting:
Research Clinic
Geographic Location(s):
Unspecified
Country:
United Kingdom
Language:
English