How VR is Bringing Change in Mental Health

The HTF teams from our LA and San Diego chapters would like to invite you to our next exciting event on February 1st, 2018 at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) Digital Ventures in Manhattan Beach, LA! The event will focus on “How Virtual Reality is Bringing Change in Mental Health” and is part of series of HTF’s global activities committing to increase opportunities for mental health innovation and implementation. To address these vital industry needs HTF launched experiMental initiative for building a solid community for mental and behavioral wellness. Look for opportunities to be an active participants in our experiMental programs, near you!

There is free parking with validation in the BCGDV lot at 1240 Rosecrans Ave. You can enter from Rosecrans or Valley Dr., which your GPS will likely take you to. After you park, go up the steps to the lobby, then take the elevator to the 5th floor. All attendees are required to sign our standard NDA upon entering our office, which will be on iPADs when you check in. Our keynote speaker, Dr. Skip Rizzo, Associate Director for Medical Virtual Reality at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies, will be sharing his insight on this exciting topic. Agenda
6:00 - 6:50 - Networking and Snacks
6:50 - 7:00 - Announcements and Introductions
7:00 - 8:00 - Speaker Presentation and Q&A Session
8:00 – 9:00 – Continue Networking
9:00 - Exit the venue

Topic
Virtual Reality (VR) has grown in popularity over the last few years, especially in the entertainment and gaming industries. VR also used in simulators for training programs and it is increasingly being used to help people with mental illness, such as those suffering from phobias, PTSD, and anxiety. Recent advances in VR technology and greater availability are facilitating expanded use in mental health treatment. How VR technology has impacted mental health treatments and we can expect in the future will be discussed by our keynote speaker, Dr. Skip Rizzo.

About Dr. Skip Rizzo
Dr. Rizzo conducts research on the design, development and evaluation of virtual reality systems targeting the areas of clinical assessment, treatment rehabilitation and resilience. This work spans the domains of psychological, cognitive and motor functioning in both healthy and clinical populations. Rizzo, whose work using virtual reality-based exposure therapy to treat PTSD received the American Psychological Association’s 2010 Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Treatment of Trauma, is the associate director for medical virtual reality at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies. He also holds research professor appointments with the USC Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.

We look forward to seeing you there!