Integration of psychodynamic and cognitive-behavioral therapy in a virtual environment

Virtual reality technology has recently been shown to be effective in combination with cognitive-behavioral therapy to treat phobias. The focus is on the here and now and uses established techniques to reduce fear by correcting cognitive distortions and habituation of fear by exposure. Some patients are unresponsive to these interventions. Dynamic psychotherapy focuses on past experiences, drawing on psychoanalytic principles. While insight alone is not seen as an effective method of treating phobias, it may offer information to assist in cognitive restructuring. A case example is given. Prior reports of the integration of otherwise conflicting therapies are discussed.