It is our policy to encourage constructive dialogue about Therapy world's activities by openly informing you about them. One aim of this Web site is to foster such a dialogue. We hope that you find this site informative and easy to use. We will regularly update our pages to reflect current knowledge and practice.

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Communications

We aim to provide all forms of communication services. Currently these modes are available:

Virtual World

A free virtual reality browser is available from Active Worlds, click image below to go to the download page. Then visit Therapy World and chat to a resident Therapist or leave a message with the bot.



Electronic Mail

Click here to send a message to a member of the Therapy World staff

Mission

Therapy world is a virtual reality (VR) world that has an environment conducive to the development of positive understandings of mental health. As such it is a world in which people can engage in therapeutic and educational processes with the intention of enhancing their individual capacity to function in both VR and the real world.

Goals

The health professional staff of Therapy World fulfils its mission by:

providing the context for research focused on developing clear processes and outcomes for online counselling, education and support.

Confidentiality

All information provided to staff of Therapy will be held in the strictest confidence and every effort will be made to ensure all data is maintained in a confidential and secure location.

Therapy is hosted on a personal server that is not accessible by anyone other than staff. All data files are password protected and encrypted. All staff associated with Therapy world are required to express their commitment to ensuring that the confidentiality of all information is maintained.

Staff

The staff of Therapy world are well qualified by experience and qualification to assist people with life related problems. In addition, all staff are experienced in offering assistance in online and virtual reality contexts. Currently the staff are:

• Julia Aranui-Faed MBChB, B.Med.Sci, DPM, FRANZCP, DipChildPsych, DHA, MIANZP, APA
• Deb Forbes RN, RPN, BN, MN[AdPrac]
• Lainee Kininmont RN, RPN, ADHAdmin
• Fran Pagdin RN, RPN, DipT, BEd, MEdAdmin, FRCNA, FANZCMHN

Staff Responsibilities

The staff of Therapy will:

• Implement therapeutic strategies relevant to each client's problems in collaboration with the client
• Regularly review the processes established for management of client problems
• Actively seek mechanisms to ensure therapeutic and educational processes are improved
• Establish explicit criteria upon which determination of client success will be based
• Constantly seek to establish an understanding of the ethico-legal issues associated with the online delivery of counselling
• Provide placement and practice opportunities for the education of professionals to work in VR and mental health therapies
• Establish an international register and network of health professionals willing to practice and offer support in VR and real life
• Establish a multi-disciplinary core team to case manage all contacts in an administrative sense, and a team of clinicians to case manage in a therapeutic sense

Clients

Therapy offers a range of services, each focused on assisting individuals to resolve or manage their personal problems and difficulties. While a large variety of problems can be managed online, the staff of Therapy consider optimal support for people with severe mental illness or problems is best offered by direct offline face-to-face encounters. Consequently, we may refuse to accept some clients where an initial assessment of problem severity exceeds that which can be optimally managed in this online VR context.

Client Responsibilities

When making a commitment to work with the staff of Therapy for the management of specific problems clients are required to accept responsibility to:

• Attend agreed appointment times. Should attendance be impossible clients are asked to send a message via telegram or e-mail to the relevant staff member
• Comply with the therapeutic strategies used by the attending staff member
• Disclose all information considered necessary to assist in effective problem management

Children

Therapy accepts clients over the age of 16. Children with mental health problems require specialised services that are not currently available in Therapy. Parents with children experiencing problems can however seek support and guidance from the staff of Therapy.

Communication Strategies

The staff of Therapy use a variety of ways to communicate with clients. The strategies include e-mail, chat, direct support and guidance in virtual world context, web and net phone, and web cam. Combined with these strategies the staff of Therapy use various therapeutic models to best manage client's problems. These include cognitive behavioural therapy, narrative therapy, crisis intervention strategies and supportive counselling. Importantly the staff of Therapy seek to work with the client in a collaborative manner to achieve resolution of problems. Therapy World's services are only offered in English, however, it is anticipated that eventually all services will offered in a variety of languages.

Problems Managed

Therapy accepts clients with a variety of problems. The problems optimally managed within the VR context include:

• Lack of self confidence and poor self esteem
• Relationship difficulties
• Marriage counselling
• Loss
• Anxiety
• Grief and bereavement
• Post traumatic stress
• Depression

This list of problems and difficulties is not complete and individuals are invited to approach the staff of Therapy for an assessment of their problem.

Services Offered

In addition to the various problems stated above the staff of Therapy offer information and education services for:

• Substance abuse
• Mental health education and promotion
• Aggression management
• Conflict resolution
• Mediation
• Early intervention

Copyright

Unless otherwise stated, the copyright and similar rights in all material published on this beta website are owned by Therapy World or its licensors. You are permitted to print or download extracts from this material for your personal use only. None of this material may be used for any commercial or public use. No part of the beta website or any material appearing on it may be reproduced on, stored in or transmitted to any other web site. No material appearing on the beta website may be disseminated in any form, either electronic or non-electronic, nor included in any retrieval system or service without prior written permission from Therapy World.

Disclaimer

Whilst every effort has been taken to verify the accuracy of the content on and proper operation of this beta site, Therapy World cannot accept any responsibility or liability for the improper operation of the site (including any associated software) or reliance by any person on the site content.

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