Enactive Approaches to Designing and Understanding Immersive Interactive Virtual Environments in Mental Healthcare

Abstract

Recent work demonstrates the potential benefits of narrative techniques for individuals with traumas that underpin many mental health problems. Likewise, research over the last decade highlights possibilities for immersive technologies in providing ways for clinicians and patients to benefit from the delivery of therapeutic interventions. However, while immersive technologies are maturing to the point of being easily configurable in a range of spaces, evidence is lacking on their efficacy and integration into healthcare settings. This research aims to understand how immersive interactive virtual environments (IIVEs), as viewed through an enactivist lens, could provide opportunities for healthcare providers to incorporate narrative techniques into mental health interventions.