“Now I Can See Me: A Virtual Representation of Self image” Designing a Multi User Virtual Reality Remote Psychotherapy for Body Shape and Size

Recent years have seen a growing research interest towards designing computer-assisted health interventions aiming to improve mental health services. Digital technologies are becoming common methods for diagnosis, therapy, education, and training. With the advent of lower-cost VR head-mounted-displays (HMDs) and high internet data transfer capacity, there is a new opportunity for applying immersive VR tools to augment existing interventions. This study is among the first to explore the use of a Multi-User Virtual Reality (MUVR) system as a therapeutic medium for participants at high-risk for developing Eating Disorders. The goal of the study is to examine the opportunities VR could offer for interventions, capitalising on the success of past VR-based therapies. This study aimed to investigate the design opportunities, challenges, feasibility, and user acceptability of introducing MUVR to facilitate remote psychotherapy. The appeal of using VR for remote psychotherapy and its observed impact on both therapists and participants is discussed. In particular, this paper demonstrates the potential value of MUVR remote psychotherapy for sufferers with body shape and weight concerns.