The American Psychological Association’s Monitor on Psychology spotlights USC ICT’s pioneering research in virtual reality and training, led by Dr. Albert “Skip” Rizzo (Vol. 56, No. 7, p. 72).
Virtual reality has long been a valuable tool for treating anxiety, but psychologists are increasingly discovering its potential in a wide range of applications, including VR interventions which benefit not only patients with diagnosable conditions but also clinicians in training.
At ICT’s Medical Virtual Reality Lab, trainees practice vital clinical skills in simulated environments, building competence and confidence before encountering real patients. As Rizzo explains:
“You’re doing a clinical interview with somebody who’s perhaps had extreme trauma, and you’ve got to be thoughtful and empathetic but also not be afraid to engage, but also not be pushy. That’s an art. [So using VR allows us to] give novice clinicians a chance to screw up a bunch with a virtual patient before they get their hands on a live one.”
The feature underscores ICT’s leadership in leveraging VR not just for therapy, but for educating the next generation of clinicians.
Read the full article here: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/10/virtual-reality-therapy