Extended Reality (XR) Technology Treatment for Serious Mental Illness
Resource Availability
This course material was originally created by SMI Adviser, now rebranded as SMI CalAdviser. The content in this course material is still current and relevant, yet, please be aware that some external resources and links may no longer be active or available. 
Overview

Description 

Interested in how new applications of technology could support work with serious mental illness (SMI)? For the past three decades, Extended Reality (XR), which includes virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR), has been used to treat a variety of behavioral and mental health conditions. The recent technological advances in immersive technology brought about by mobile and gaming devices are offering more access to XR and potential uses. For example, XR can be used to deliver telehealth, enhance learning and psychotherapy, or change implicit biases/stigma. Embodied VR is a newer form of XR that is being explored and uses avatar body transfer experiences. It may offer many uses in behavioral health such as role-playing opportunities for skills acquisition or help with many problems including maladaptive body image/satisfaction, social skills deficits, avoidance behaviors, chronic pain, and somatic symptoms. Join Dr. Kim Bullock, Stanford Professor, neuropsychiatrist, and clinical XR researcher, for this webinar on the theory, evidence, application, challenges, and potential applications of XR for treating SMI. 

Format 

Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity with post-test.  

This presentation was recorded on September 24, 2021. 

Learning Objectives 

Review how to use Extended Reality (XR) in serious mental illness (SMI) interventions.  

Analyze the clinical evidence for the use of Extended Reality (XR) in SMI.  

Utilize resources for hands-on training in order to develop clinical skills for use when implementing XR into general practice for SMI.  

Outline  

  • Extended Reality (XR) basics 

  • Evidence for XR in treating serious mental illness 

  • Adding XR to your practice 

  • Potential of XR for treating serious mental illness  

  • Presenter Q&A 

Target Audience 

Psychiatrist, Psychologist, Counselor/Therapist, Social Worker 

Instructional Level 

Introductory 

Estimate Time to Complete 

Estimated Duration: 1.0 hour 
Program Start Date: July 30, 2025
Program End Date: July 30, 2028 

Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board 

After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through the Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.  

How to Earn Credit 

After evaluating the activity, participants will be provided with an opportunity evaluate the activity and, claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians) or certificate of participation (non-physicians) showing the event date and hours earned. 

Continuing Education Credit 

In support of improving patient care, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.  

Physicians   

The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.   

Psychologists   

Continuing Education (CE) credits for psychologists are provided through the co-sponsorship of the American Psychological Association (APA) Office of Continuing Education in Psychology (CEP). The APA CEP Office maintains responsibility for the content of the programs.  

Social Workers    

As a Jointly Accredited Organization, American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. APA maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive up to 1.00 clinical continuing education credits. 

***Continuing education requirements vary from state to state. Many state boards grant reciprocity with national accrediting organizations and other state boards. It is the responsibility of each professional to understand the requirements for license renewal or check with the state or national licensing board and/or professional organization to become more familiar with their policies for acceptable continuing education credit. Social workers and Psychologists should contact their regulatory board to determine course approval.    

Faculty and Planner Disclosures 

Faculty 

  • Kim Bullock, MD received her undergraduate degree with honors and distinction in physiology and psychology from the University of California, San Diego, Revelle College and her medical degree from George Washington University in Washington, DC. She completed an internship in internal medicine at Washington Hospital in D.C. and a psychiatry residency at Stanford University. She is a diplomat in the subspecialties of Behavioral Neurology and Neuropsychiatry and Lifestyle Medicine. She is currently appointed Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences within Stanford’s School of Medicine. Dr. Bullock is the founder and Director of Stanford's Neurobehavioral Clinic and Virtual Reality & Immersive Technologies (VRIT) program and laboratory. Dr. Bullock reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 

Planners 

  • Teri Brister, PhD, LPC, National Alliance on Mental Illness. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 

  • Amy Cohen, PhD, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 

  • Tristan Gorrindo, MD, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 

  • Sherin Khan, LCSW, Thresholds. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests. 

Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities 

The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. Please contact the American Psychiatric Association at 202-559-3900, if you require assistance seven (7) business days prior to the start of a live webinar. 

Technical Requirements 

This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following: 

  • The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari 

  • Internet Explorer 11+ 

This Web site requires that JavaScript and session cookies be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be: Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Windows Media Player. 

Optimal System Configuration: 

  • Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version) 

  • Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version) 

  • Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher 

Minimum Requirements: 

  • Windows PC: Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content 

  • Macintosh: Mac OS X 10.5 or higher with latest updates installed; Intel, PowerPC G5, or PowerPC G4 (867MHz or faster) processor; 512 MB or higher RAM; audio playback with speakers for programs with video content 

For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity |  Contact support@smicaladviser.org for technical assistance 

Summary
Availability:
On-Demand
Expires on Jul 30, 2028
Credit Offered:
1 CME Credit
1 Psychology CE Credit
1 Social Work CE Credit
1 COP Credit
Powered By