Social Phobias

Social phobia, or social anxiety, is a fear of certain social or performance activities. These are situations where individuals experience intense anxiety about potential negative judgment from others. This anxiety can significantly impact self-confidence, making any social interaction challenging. Public speaking is often a major source of stress for those suffering from social phobia, as they fear being observed, rejected, embarrassed, or humiliated, which leads to avoidance and isolation behaviors. With virtual reality, individuals can gradually expose themselves to various social contexts at their own pace, helping to reduce the anxiety experienced in such situations.

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“Virtual reality is 80% effective, with benefits lasting for more than a year after treatment.” Eric Malbos, Psychiatrist

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Efficacy

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Why such efficacy ?

1. Immersion

The user will be immersed in virtual environments designed to recreate anxiety-provoking social situations from everyday life.

2. Cognitive restructuring

The user will unlearn negative reactions, such as catastrophic thoughts (“Everyone thinks I’m useless”), and rebuild positive thought patterns (“I belong here”).

3. Repetition

Through repeated exposures, these patterns will become quickly and permanently ingrained in your mental functioning.

4. Progressiveness

The gradual increase in the difficulty of the environments will allow the user to progressively desensitize to the anxiety experienced and regain confidence in their abilities.

5. Personalization

With Artificial Intelligence, they will be supported and encouraged in a personalized way throughout the exposures.

Receive the C2Care method for free, combining Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality !

The AI revolution !

We use Artificial Intelligence both through a coach named Camille and through virtual characters within the scenes. Camille provides support and acts as a trusted companion to whom you can share your concerns without fear of judgment. On the other hand, the virtual characters faithfully replicate real-life social behaviors. You will be able to interact with them in various everyday contexts, such as a party, a date, a job interview, or a spontaneous conversation on the street. Learn more

The different social contexts!

Fear of public speaking

Fear of public speaking

Speaking in public is always a challenging task, but for individuals with glossophobia, it can feel like a nightmare. This fear is often tied to the worry of being judged or making a mistake in front of an audience. Social anxiety amplifies this fear, significantly impacting self-confidence.

Virtual reality allows users to face public speaking situations and get accustomed to them, while addressing fears such as blushing or losing control.

Public places

In public places, anxiety related to encountering people, feeling watched, sensing danger, or fearing judgment can be overwhelming and significantly affect daily life. This feeling of discomfort can become overwhelming, gradually reducing outings until it significantly limits social life.

This immersive approach helps reduce the anxiety associated with social phobia and gradually builds self-confidence, enabling better social integration and more active participation in daily activities.

Public places

School phobia

School phobia

Social anxiety can have a significant impact on schooling, whether in children or young adults. Activities essential to a calm and productive school life—such as giving a presentation, raising a hand in class, or making friends—can provoke intense anxiety in many students.

With virtual reality, it is possible to work on overcoming the fear of public speaking and engaging with new people by adjusting the number of listeners, their attitudes, and the personalities of those you interact with.

Social events

Informal settings, such as gatherings with friends, can trigger significant anxiety. Engaging with new people, integrating into a group, or simply speaking in front of friends can be daunting.

Through artificial intelligence and virtual reality exposure, individuals can directly address behaviors and thought patterns specific to these situations, fostering a fulfilling social life.

Social events

Romantics date

Romantics date

Romantic dates can be anxiety-inducing, often involving the fear of being judged or failing to meet the other person’s expectations. Uncertainty about how the meeting will unfold, conversation topics, or potential awkward moments can intensify feelings of insecurity.

Virtual reality exposure, combined with artificial intelligence, offers a safe and supportive space to practice one-on-one conversations, helping users overcome the anxiety linked to dating.

Lives changed thanks to our method.

Feel free to customize your exhibitions for a fully immersive experience !

Each environment can be personalized by precisely choosing the situation to be exposed to :

Context : Social anxiety can occur in professional or informal situations, one-on-one or in groups. Users can modify the type of scenario, such as a house party, conference room, lecture hall, or job interview.

Physical characteristics : To better suit individual preferences, users can select the gender and age of the virtual interlocutor for one-on-one interactions.

Public place density : Whether in public transport (subway, plane, bus) or a supermarket, the crowd density and behavior of the people can be adjusted, ensuring gradual exposure to anxiety-inducing situations.

Conversations : Thanks to artificial intelligence, users can engage in conversations with virtual characters in these environments, offering complete interaction customization and in-depth work on managing anxiety.

They testify to the effectiveness of C2Care !

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Simon - User

I am a very shy person who is afraid to speak in public. However, thanks to the virtual reality therapy of C2Care, I managed to overcome my fear of speaking in public as the sessions progressed. I can’t thank C2Care enough for their help that changed my daily life. 

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Jordan Fannis - Psychologist

I saw in the field what it brings to my patients, satisfaction, and then with a little bit of gamification, we enjoy going to work. It creates a kind of connection between my patients and me.

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Hervé M - User

For my part, it is the best therapy among all those I have experienced so far with real situations regarding (for my part) glossophobia. The psychologist was really listening to me and helped me a lot in the fight against my phobia.

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Marcus F - User

I decided to go back to school and take my exam. Going back to school was terrifying. With this program and the support of my psychologist, I was able to prepare myself for this return to class. I was able to face the exam room. Perfect for learning how to manage stress.

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Laura - User

Thanks to my therapist and the C2Care teams who helped me overcome my social phobias. Today after 4 months of therapy I am released.

Design sans titre (5)

Dr Bouchard - Psychologist

I think it’s an extraordinary opportunity for patients, people who suffer from these disorders to finally have access to treatments that we can dose to tame our fears.

Do you need further information or have any specific questions ?

Our environments in image

Often associated

Agoraphobia

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Anxiety

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Scientific Articles

Virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety disorders

Virtual reality compared with in vivo exposure in the treatment of social anxiety disorder

Comparing In-Person to Videoconference-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Mood and Anxiety Disorders

FAQ

Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology that enables patients to be exposed to immersive and controlled environments, facilitating the management of numerous psychological and psychiatric disorders. Its use in mental health offers several advantages:
  • Gradual and Controlled Exposure: VR allows patients to confront anxiety-inducing situations in a secure environment, gradually adjusting the intensity of stimuli to promote habituation and emotional regulation.
  • Realistic and Reproducible Environments: Unlike traditional techniques, VR provides immersive scenarios that can be consistently reproduced, ensuring a coherent and effective approach.
  • Increased Patient Engagement: The interactive and immersive nature of VR enhances treatment adherence and motivates patients to continue their therapy.
  • Personalized Treatment: Virtual environments can be adapted to meet the specific needs of each patient.
  • Versatile Applications: VR is used to treat anxiety disorders (phobias, post-traumatic stress disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorders), addictions, mood disorders, and even cognitive remediation.
The use of virtual reality in healthcare is not new! It has been studied and utilized for over 30 years in the medical and psychological fields. As early as the 1990s, researchers began exploring its potential for treating anxiety disorders, particularly phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder. Since then, numerous scientific studies have confirmed its effectiveness in addressing various psychiatric, neurological, and cognitive disorders.
Today, VR is widely integrated into therapeutic and medical practices, with clinically validated protocols. It is used in hospitals, clinics, and psychologists' offices worldwide to provide patients with innovative, effective, and safe treatments.
To use virtual reality, one must immerse themselves in a virtual environment. There are several ways to achieve this.
In the past, the CAVE system (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment), a 3D setup consisting of multiple screen walls, was the primary method used. This system allowed users to be fully immersed in the virtual world, with their movements detected in real-time. However, this technology was expensive and not widely accessible.
Since around 2016, with the introduction of virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive, VR has become much more accessible. These headsets immerse users in virtual reality through an enclosed screen that projects digital images. The user's head movements are tracked, enabling them to look around and interact with the environment as they would in the real world.
Today, VR headsets are wireless and standalone, providing maximum comfort and ease of use without requiring external sensors or cables.
A virtual environment is an immersive digital simulation created through virtual reality. It allows users to navigate in a 3D space that accurately replicates everyday situations or specific contexts.
In mental health, these environments are designed to help individuals gradually face certain situations, manage their emotions, or enhance cognitive skills. By interacting with these virtual spaces, patients can engage in meaningful experiences tailored to their needs.
You need to equip yourself with a virtual reality headset. Our software is compatible with Meta Quest 2, 3, and 3S. 
You will then only need an internet connection. 
Numerous studies confirm that virtual reality is safe to use. However, some restrictions are in place to protect users from potential adverse effects.
For instance, individuals with epilepsy and pregnant women should avoid this type of therapy.
As with any immersive technology, prolonged use may cause visual fatigue or mild discomfort, particularly for those sensitive to motion sickness. Therefore, it is recommended to take regular breaks and adjust session durations according to individual needs.
Virtual environments are designed to be gradual and controlled, minimizing the risk of excessive anxiety. Most users quickly adapt to immersion and experience the benefits of this innovative approach from the first sessions.
Anxiety disorders and phobias can be effectively treated using virtual reality. Patients are gradually and progressively exposed to anxiety-inducing situations in various environments while remaining in a safe space. This process helps develop a sense of habituation, ultimately reducing or even eliminating anxiety over time.
Behavioral and substance addictions can also be addressed through virtual reality. By incorporating synthetic stimuli into the environments that trigger craving responses, patients struggling with addiction can work on their cravings to diminish the urge to consume.
Additionally, multiple environments—such as bars, casinos, and social settings—enable cognitive work on dysfunctional beliefs associated with specific temptation scenarios.
Regarding eating disorders, virtual reality software helps target key etiological factors, such as body dysmorphia, allocentric lock (a tendency to focus on others rather than oneself), and food cravings.
Currently, our TERV (Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy) solutions include multiple software programs designed to address critical psychiatric, psychological, and neuropsychological determinants such as relaxation, cognitive stimulation, behavioral activation, and social skills training.
Reminiscence therapy is also a major therapeutic tool in treating depression. By allowing patients to relive sensations linked to past pleasurable activities (such as sports, driving, or traveling), virtual reality stimulates hypoactive brain areas, enhancing therapeutic success. VR serves as an excellent mediator for reigniting engagement in enjoyable activities.
Moreover, cognitive stimulation for elderly individuals is another area where virtual reality proves beneficial. By leveraging technology to make stimulation activities more engaging and accessible, patients and nursing home residents can improve executive functions and memory through specially designed applications.
Today, virtual reality in mental health care is advancing rapidly. Researchers, clinicians, and developers continue to explore new therapeutic targets to offer innovative and effective treatment solutions in the near future.
VR can be used by all healthcare professionals assisting patients with anxiety, phobias, post-traumatic stress disorders, addictions, or other psychological challenges.
It is particularly beneficial for psychologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, specialized nurses, as well as psychomotor therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, sophrologists, and hypnotherapists. With a wide range of immersive environments, VR enhances therapeutic approaches and provides innovative tools to improve patient care.
Healthcare providers incorporating virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET) expand their range of treatment options. VRET is a well-established therapeutic technique with scientific validation from cognitive-behavioral therapy research.
  • Professional Differentiation: Integrating VR into practice allows therapists to stand out from traditional treatment options.
  • Scientific Validation: VRET is backed by extensive research, reinforcing its credibility as an effective treatment method.
  • Improved Patient Engagement: The interactive nature of VR fosters greater patient involvement in therapy.
  • Time-Saving: VR provides direct access to various exposure environments without needing external logistics.

One of the considerable advantages of virtual reality is that it is effective on a wide spectrum of populations. Existing data from the literature on the subject shows us that it is entirely possible to expose a wide age group to virtual reality, with real therapeutic benefits.

The studies attest, in fact, to excellent feasibility and significant results; particularly in adults, in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including school phobia), autism, addictions, eating disorders, neuropsychological disorders, psychotic disorders and mood disorders.

The results are identical for adolescents with a significant added value concerning therapeutic engagement where virtual reality promotes adolescents' interest in their therapy.

Among elderly subjects, study results encourage the use of virtual reality with the aim of working on cognitive stimulation, on behavioral disorders but also on anxiety.

One of the major advantages of virtual reality is its effectiveness across a broad spectrum of the population. Existing literature on the subject shows that virtual reality can be used with individuals of various age groups, providing significant therapeutic benefits.
Studies confirm excellent feasibility and significant results, particularly among adults in the treatment of anxiety disorders (including school phobia), autism, addictions, eating disorders, neuropsychological disorders, psychotic disorders, and mood disorders.
The results are equally promising for adolescents, with a notable advantage in terms of therapeutic engagement, as virtual reality enhances their interest and participation in treatment.
For older adults, research supports the use of virtual reality to improve cognitive stimulation, behavioral disorders, and anxiety management.
However, people with epilepsy and pregnant individuals are not advised to undergo this type of therapy.
Yes, all our environments are grouped within a single application.
Our technical support team is available Monday to Friday, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM and 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM (Paris time), at technical@c2.care
You can cancel at any time by filling out the form at the bottom of the page. 

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