One such highly motivating play therapy intervention is the use of the Digital Play TherapyTM


tool of virtual reality. Utilizing virtual reality in


play therapy allows treatment, education, and supervision (Safaryan  and orchestrating, to experiencing therapeutic ways to engage the polyvagal, autonomic, sympathetic, and parasympathetic systems” (Stone, in press a).


Virtual reality includes a collection of fully immersive experiences accessed through a head mounted display (HMD) unit and a computer system. The experiences include 360-degree views of either computer-          2020b). Sensors that track movement are either housed within an all- in-one unit (i.e., Oculus Quest) for inside-out tracking or are mounted   type of tracking affords different levels of the client’s movements to be reflected within the virtual reality experience, “which leads to desired  2020a). Stone (2020a, 2022) further detailed the use of virtual reality with clients in Digital Play Therapy.


Virtual Reality, Cognitive Processes, and Embodiment According to Wilson (2002), “cognitive processes are deeply rooted in the body’s interactions with the world” (p. 625). A deeper exploration of these concepts is available within Stone’s (in press a) Extended Reality and Supervision chapter in Born and Baker’s (in press a) book:


 To briefly summarize several concepts, virtual reality is not only the environment that is provided, but also the representation of the self. This encompasses the distinction between, and incorporation of, self and other(s). The representation and depiction of these concepts within virtual reality can be customized as desired for the realization of the therapeutic goals: the  a client needs to experience, the , and the  can be realized within this environment in a way that  a). This combination takes neuropsychological concepts underpinning play therapy to entirely new levels.


Virtual Reality and Hippocampal Brain Research To further understand some of the critical impacts virtual reality can have within therapeutic treatment, we must explore and understand more about  this happens. Beyond being an incredibly “cool” intervention, virtual reality allows for unprecedented knowledge of the brain and ways to assist with key aspects, such as neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, which allow for adaptation,


regeneration, and


 particularly for clients who have experienced trauma (Stone, in press b).


Housed within the limbic system, the hippocampus is involved in long-term memory and spatial navigation. It is important to note, within the hippocampus, theta waves provide several critical functions. Measured by an electroencephalogram (EEG), the


22 | PLAYTHERAPY | December 2021 | www.a4pt.org


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