Confirmed by research and effective in managing stress in patients with depression is virtual reality therapy. In cooperation with Brontes Processing Ltd and Medica Space Ltd, with the support of Dr. Katarzyna Wybrańczyk psychotherapist and Prof. WSB – NLU Dr. Tadeusz Mędzelowski, acting under the Small Grants Scheme for Entrepreneurial Women of the “Entrepreneurship Development and Innovation” program co-financed by the Norwegian Financial Mechanism, 2014-2021 2014-2021 under the title “Development, research and implementation of an innovative method of psychotherapy using virtual reality glasses with software to support the course of treatment” we combined the potential of occupational therapies with the potential of virtual reality, which activates the imagination and our inner resources. Isolation from problems and surroundings gives a chance through therapeutic games installed on virtual glasses to find strength, energy and inner resources within ourselves and as a result brings the needed help in the healing process.

In our project, the proper research preceded by a pilot study included 160 people receiving psychotherapy, including 98 women and 62 men. A proper group of 80 people using vr glasses with therapeutic games and a control group of also 80 people using traditional therapy methods were selected. Each person participated in several research experiments. 720 measurements from the studies were obtained. Statistical analysis of the studies performed confirmed the effectiveness of using vr glasses with therapeutic games in the area of supporting patients’ emotional health treatment. In most cases, more than 70% of the respondents of the relevant group showed that after the virtual therapeutic games there was a reduction in their somatic symptoms, an improvement in mood, a reduction in stress, a reduction in emotional tension and faster falling asleep. Their mental health symptoms improved to a greater extent than those of patients who did not use vr glasses but used traditional forms of therapy.

Our study, completed in December 2023, showed that the use of vr glasses with therapeutic games can complement patients’ mental health treatment with an emotional aspect. Elements of chromotherapy, forest and art therapy in virtual reality can be a safe support in dealing with stress and depression and used complementarily in the treatment of nervous system disorders, in the prevention of falling asleep, as a way to relieve emotional tension in situations of emotional overload, in situations of excessive stress, such as before procedures, dental appointments, exams, etc., and as a support in medicine and rehabilitation.

Most important, however, is the awareness of the uselessness of this tool if it is deprived of specific human activity: the patient and the therapist. Virtual reality is, of course, a modern computer technology that simulates the real environment, but if it affects and can affect the sensory – sight, hearing or touch, and can contribute to increasing motivation and involvement of the patient in the process of rehabilitation and recovery, then it is certainly worth attention. Just as worthy of attention is the work to meet today’s needs of society in terms of optimal methods of providing psychological and psychotherapeutic services.

Let us therefore repeat in conclusion after Andrzej Sapkowski: “If the goal is pursued, the way must be found.”