Inner Space | Tianxi Ren

Therapeutic VR Experience

Breathing Out

This MFA thesis project explores the potential of using therapeutic and reflective virtual reality (VR) experiences to assist young adults in dealing with stress and anxiety. By incorporating innovative problem-solving, positive imagery that aligns with the principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and assisted meditation, Breathing Out aims to educate and train young adults in practical coping skills to combat stress and anxiety effectively.

MY ROLE

Director

TIMELINE

May. 2023 - Present

SKILLS

Unity, Figma

RESEARCH GOAL

Understanding the Challenge

In the contemporary digital landscape, mental health concerns among young adults are increasingly prevalent, with conditions like anxiety, depression, and stress affecting this demographic significantly. The consequences of untreated mental health issues among young adults are profound.

share-of-adults-reporting-symptoms-of-anxiety-and-or-depressive-disorder-february-2023-Fea

EXISTING SLOUTION

The Role of Traditional Therapy

Traditional therapy, encompassing a range of therapeutic methods, has conventionally been regarded as a viable solution to address these concerns. It offers a structured, supervised environment where individuals can explore their thoughts and emotions. However, as valuable as traditional therapy is, many barriers prevent young adults from fully benefiting from its services, such as stigma and accessibility.

Stigma (Image from Freepik)

Accessibility (Image from Freepik)

NEW POSSIBILITIES

Game and Its Potential in Mental Health Prevention

Games employed in mental health interventions are commonly referred to as “serious games.” What makes games particularly appealing to young adults is their inherent capacity to capture their attention and motivation. The use of game mechanics, such as storytelling, rewards, and progression systems, harnesses their intrinsic desire for achievement, making the therapeutic process enjoyable.

THE CONCEPT

Storytelling in the Immersive Experience

For me, storytelling is very important in an educational experience. However, these games lack in storytelling because they focus on immersive environment design and biofeedback mechanics. The experience I want to create is not just a "tool" that teaches you how to relax through breathing, but one that uses stories to provoke deep thinking. I hope that after playing "Breathing Out," players will understand the following points:

If something terrible happens, it is better to take a deep breath and calm down before doing anything.
It is essential to recognize that adverse situations are not permanent and will eventually end.
Obstacles can be leveraged as opportunities for growth and development if approached with the appropriate mindset and strategies.

To achieve this, I referred to a model proposed by Daniela Villani, Alessandra Preziosa, and Giuseppe Riva: a three-step process of Emotion Awareness, Emotion Regulation, and Emotion Transformation, to structure my game flow. Additionally, the storytelling adopts a distinctive approach, weaving a dialogue between the first-person and third-person perspectives.

GAME DEVELOPMENT

Six Phases of an Emotional Journey

Storyboard for Breathing Out Phase I: Connection

Storyboard for Breathing Out Phase II: Stimulation

Storyboard for Breathing Out Phase III: Labeling

Storyboard for Breathing Out Phase IV: Regulation

Storyboard for Breathing Out Phase V: Defusion

Storyboard for for Breathing Out Phase VI: Return

PSYCHOLOGY STUDY

Therapeutic Principles and Practices

Main principles and practices that I explored as inspirations:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (Positive Imagery)
Self-counseling through Virtual Body Ownership
Meditation and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
Art and Music Therapy
Ecopsychology and Eastern Beliefs in Yin-Yang and Five Elements

The Counseling Scenario. Sofia Adelaide Osimo et al., “Conversations between

Self and Self as Sigmund Freud—A Virtual Body Ownership Paradigm for Self

Counselling,”

Setup for Creative Expression in Virtual Reality. Girija Kaimal et al., “Virtual Reality in Art Therapy: A Pilot Qualitative Study of the Novel Medium and Implications for Practice,”

CASE STUDIES

Mental Health Games on the Market

Nevermind is a pioneering biofeedback-enhanced adventure thriller game designed to immerse players in the intricate and enigmatic realms of the subconscious mind. Initially developed by Erin Reynolds and commercialized by Flying Mollusk, the game responds to the player's stress levels, intensifying challenges and altering the narrative based on the detected psychological state.

Screenshot of Nevermind gameplay showing biofeedback in action. Nevermind Steam Store page.

TRIPP is an innovative entry into virtual reality (VR) meditation games, aiming to elevate mental wellness through immersive technology. The game employs captivating psychedelic imagery, a departure from traditional meditation applications, to guide users through mindfulness exercises.

DEEP, a biofeedback VR game that teaches diaphragmatic breathing has demonstrated its potential for stress reduction.

Screenshot of TRIPP gameplay. TRIPP, LLC. TRIPP® PlayStation Store Cover.

DEEP-VR screenshot. Isabela Granic "DEEP-VR: A stunning virtual reality game for anxiety and depression (Pt. 5)"

Blowing Blues, designed and developed by Xuan Li, is an interdisciplinary health game and intervention that explores relaxation breathing, stress coping, and emotion management. Blowing Blues employs a distinctive approach by utilizing the player's breath as a controller for relaxation breathing. Players first input personalized descriptions of negative emotions, which are then transformed into targets for breath-controlled elimination.

Screenshot of Blowing Blues Gameplay. Image from Xuan Liu. 2013.

RTX.

Therapeutic VR Experience

Breathing Out

Understanding the Challenge

The Role of Traditional Therapy

Game and Its Potential in Mental Health Prevention