Hyderabad psychiatrist launches VR therapy to overcome fear of flying

Hyderabad psychiatrist Dr Jyothirmayi Kotipalli has launched a three-part Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy programme to help individuals overcome fear of flying. The immersive sessions simulate an entire flight journey with real-time therapeutic guidance and coping strategies for anxiety management

Hyderabad: If the mere thought of flying fills you with anxiety, you are not alone. Many individuals suffer from an intense and irrational fear of flying, a phobia known as aviophobia. To empower such individuals with tools to manage this condition, senior psychiatrist from Hyderabad, Dr Jyothirmayi Kotipalli, has collaborated with a US-based Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) company, Imaginate, to launch a complete Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET) programme.

The three-part VR programme provides users with a personally guided journey to overcome their fear of flying. “Using immersive 360-degree VR, we safely and gently walk such individuals through every stage of air travel, from the moment they enter the departure airport to the moment they walk out of the destination airport,” Dr Jyothirmayi said.

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Throughout each VR video, virtual therapists provide real-time coping strategies and calming techniques to help build resilience and confidence. “We have seen the silent toll fear of flying takes, from cancelled family dreams to profound personal distress. This initiative is our answer to the question—how can we democratise access to clinically backed mental health support?” said the mental health specialist, who founded the Hyderabad-based Manaha Mind and Neuro Centre.

The immersive VR experience guides users through the entire flight journey, including departure, inflight turbulence and arrival, with real-time therapeutic guidance, replicating the efficacy of in-clinic VRET.

“We believe this is a powerful tool leveraging technology for widespread mental wellness. This can redefine how we approach accessible mental health support,” Dr Jyothirmayi pointed out.

The VR exposure therapy is divided into three parts. The first part virtually enables individuals to navigate security, explore the retail and gate areas and wait for boarding in a calm and controlled manner. In the second part, individuals are exposed to inflight experiences such as take-off, a period of simulated turbulence and landing, all while receiving expert guidance to manage anxiety. In the last part, individuals are virtually guided through airport arrival, exiting the plane, leaving the airport and completing the journey.

Interested individuals can check out the videos on YouTube at @manahaclinic or visit the facility in Hyderabad for the VR experience.