VR FOR THERAPY
Beyond words
A shared immersive space for non-verbal therapeutic communication
Services // IMMERSIVE // VIRTUAL REALITY
Challenge
In mental health therapy, many emotions are difficult to name or express verbally. Traditional talk therapy can struggle when patients can’t find words for complex feelings, making it harder for therapists to understand their clients’ inner experiences and build therapeutic rapport.
The gap: Therapists needed a tool that could help patients express emotions non-verbally, creating a shared emotional space where feelings could take shape through metaphor and immersion rather than language alone.
Concept
Inspired by the game Dixit and its symbolic power, we collaborated with Gatera Media to create a therapeutic VR experience where patient and therapist can share the same emotional space.
The goal
Design metaphorical environments that would help express deep sensations and unlock memories through immersion, transforming the therapy session into a shared experience where emotions take shape and movement.
Our approach
We designed five metaphorical spaces in VR, each addressing core therapeutic themes:
Boat navigating between storm and calm
Explores emotional regulation and resilience. The storm represents crisis; the calm represents the possibility of peace.
Silent universe inviting introspection
Creates a judgment-free space for deep self-reflection, giving patients permission to simply “be” without pressure to explain or perform.
Well symbolizing the difficulty of coming to light
Represents buried trauma or emotions stuck deep inside. The upward journey mirrors the slow work of bringing what’s hidden into consciousness.
Broken vases that reassemble
Models healing and post-traumatic growth. The shattering represents how pain fractures our sense of self; the reassembly shows that wholeness is possible again.
Umbrella in the rain representing vulnerability
Explores the tension between protection and exposure. When does self-protection serve us, and when does it isolate us from connection?
Each environment was created in Unity and optimized for therapeutic use on Meta Quest 3, combining sensorial storytelling with immersive sound design.
The experience
The therapy session is transformed into a shared immersive experience. The patient explores their own inner landscape accompanied by the therapist, fostering empathy, trust, and non-verbal communication.
Patients can explore their inner landscape without needing to find the right words.
Key features:
- Metaphorical scenarios for emotional exploration
- Sensorial storytelling and immersive sound design
- Tool for psychologists and therapists
- Applicable in clinical and educational environments
- Unity development with mental health XR focus
Why this matters
When silence becomes dialogue, therapy can reach places that words cannot. By creating a shared virtual space where emotions take visual and auditory form, therapists and patients can explore feelings that exist beyond language.
This represents our belief that immersive technology can serve as a bridge between art, psychology, and empathy, creating new forms of emotional communication in therapeutic settings.
Details
Client
LaviniaNext
Platform
Meta Quest 3
Design
Pol Ferrando (Gatera Media) & Mike van der Noord (LuzidLab)
Programming
Rodrigo de Pedro (Gatera Media)
3D Modeling
Mike van der Noord (LuzidLab)
Music and sound design
Martí Valverde (Gatera Media)
The vision
At LuzidLab and Gatera Media, we explore how VR and XR can generate wellbeing and new forms of emotional communication. This project reinforces our vision of technology as a bridge between art, psychology, and empathy.
We believe in a future where immersive experiences can also heal
