VR Therapeutic Experience for PTSD & Anxiety
Project Summary
Goal: Design immersive, therapeutic VR experiences that aid in managing PTSD, anxiety, and stress through calming environments, intuitive interactions, and sensory feedback.
Scenarios Include:
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Guided breathing in a tranquil forest
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Realistic fishing simulation using vibration feedback
Role: Lead UI/UX Designer — responsible for crafting emotionally supportive and accessible user experiences that enhance therapeutic outcomes without cognitive overload.
This project involves designing an immersive therapeutic experience using virtual reality to aid patients with PTSD, anxiety, and stress-related conditions. The core of the project is to create intuitive, user-friendly interfaces and immersive environments that facilitate natural interactions.
For example, in a deep breathing scenario, users are guided by an on-screen UI within a serene forest setting, designed to help them practice and regulate their breathing rhythms for relaxation and stress reduction. In another scenario, users engage with a simulated fishing experience using vibration sensors to mimic the sensations of casting, waiting, and catching fish, providing a realistic and soothing escape.
My role focuses on crafting an engaging and accessible user experience that promotes relaxation, psychological healing, and stress management through seamless integration of sensory feedback and immersive visuals. The challenge is to ensure that the interface is intuitive and calming, enhancing the therapeutic potential of each scenario without overwhelming the user.
Empathize:
Understanding the Users Clinical Collaboration: Consulted with psychologists and therapists to understand user sensitivities, trauma triggers, and best practices in digital mental health interventions.
User Personas: Adults with PTSD seeking non-invasive therapyIndividuals with anxiety who may be new to VRPatients using VR in a clinical setting or at home
Accessibility Considerations:Avoid sudden stimuli, harsh transitions, or overwhelming interfacesEnsure ease of onboarding with minimal instructions needed
Persona from User Research Survey
Persona: “Seek a VR application that offers immersive relaxation experiences, aimed at aiding recovery from PTSD and anxiety.”
Define: Experience Goals & Success Metrics
Emotional Design Principles:Calmness, trust, and agency are prioritized
UI should “disappear” during key therapeutic moments
KPIs:Reduced session dropout ratesUser-reported relaxation and emotional improvement
High usability scores from target patient group
Ideation: UX Flow Mapping & Scenario Design
Experience Flow Diagrams: Created separate interaction flows for each scenario:Breathing Exercise: Onboarding → Enter forest → Guided breath pacing → Cooldown phaseFishing Simulation: Tutorial → Select location → Cast & wait → Catch and release → End session
Interaction Mapping:Gaze-activated or gesture-based input (no complex controls)
Haptic triggers during catch/fish bite momentsAmbient sound and visual feedback for subtle guidance
Features
User experience design
01
Relaxation Scene
After the application started, patients will see themselves sitting within a relaxation scene with interactive fountains, animals, caves, mountains etc.
A virtual UI will be presented in front of the patients, and they can use the hand controllers to select from the UI menu, either to teleport to different locations or change system settings.
02
Fishing Port
Patients can select ‘fishing’ from the UI menu, and then they will teleport to the fishing port, they can pick up the fishing rod in front of them, then move to the riverside and with the controller vibration they can experience casting a fishing rod, waiting for a bite, and catching various types of fish within the designed immersive environment. This provides a relaxation and enjoyment experience comparable to real fishing.
03
Interactive with Animals
The apple trees in the scene are all able to be interactive, patients can use their hand controllers to pick apples, and feed the animals with the apple. They can also touch the animals near them, through the sensor's vibrations and the immersive environment, patients can experience close interactions with animals, promoting psychological healing.
04
Deep Breathe
Patients can select ‘deep breathe’ from the UI menu, and then they will teleport to the target place. In the deep breathing scenario, patients will engage in deep breathing exercises guided by a UI panel within a dense forest setting. This application aims to help patients with PTSD and anxiety by teaching them to regulate their breathing rhythm, aiding relaxation. It also provides a designed relaxation environment to assist with sleep and alleviate stress.
UI Design: Calm, Non-Intrusive Interfaces
UI System:Transparent, minimal HUD elements that fade during active relaxationSoft animations synced with audio for breath guidance
Accessible iconography and voice-supported interactions
Visual Design Principles:Muted color palettes and organic shapesTypography that’s readable but not distractingNo hard edges or sudden movement
Multi-Sensory Feedback Integration
Haptics & Audio:Used vibration sensors for tactile realism in fishingBinaural nature sounds and adaptive music to enhance immersion
Breath Sync Feedback:Visuals pulse gently with user’s breathing rhythm (from microphone or estimated timing)
Subtle affirmations or nature cues reinforce engagement
Testing & Iteration
Usability Testing with Target Users:Observed onboarding, navigation, and emotional responses in clinical mock settingsGathered feedback on clarity of UI cues and comfort levels
Psychological Safety Audit: Collaborated with mental health experts to eliminate potentially distressing stimuliIterative Improvements:Slowed transition animationsReduced text reliance in favor of guided audioAdjusted color saturation based on feedback
App Flow Introduction
1
Open the App in the company's platform, which includes a Samsung Tab for remote control and Pico VR.
2
Enjoy the relaxation animal interactive scene by using the Pico VR headset and controllers.
4
Select fishing scene: Teleport to the port and enjoy the fishing experience with interaction guidance.
5
Select deep breathing: Teleport to the point and enjoy the deep breathe training through the interaction guidance.
3
Select other features from the UI presented inside the virtual scene.
6
Exit from any scene
Outcome & Impact
Successfully created a set of immersive, therapeutic VR modules with calming, non-invasive UX Users reported feeling “safe,” “relaxed,” and “engaged” during experiencesDesign framework now serves as the base for future therapeutic content modules