Therapeutic Virtual Reality Might Help Us to Relax or Meditate - But is it Pulling Us in Two Directions?
In my research I’ve been exploring how VR can support mental health and wellbeing. One question kept coming up in my mind: If VR is supposed to immerse us in another world, how does that square with common meditation or mindfulness practices that ask us to focus inward — on our breath, our body, or our present sensations? It led me to think about how attention works in VR relaxation and meditation experiences, and whether we're designing virtual experiences that pull users in two different directions.
I recently published a journal article on this issue with Sarah Nicholson and, in this blog, I discuss some of the main ideas.
VR and the Promise of Digital Calm
Virtual reality has become a game-changer in how we approach stress and wellbeing. It can transport us to peaceful natural landscapes, help us relax and disconnect from our hectic routines, and support mindfulness and meditation practices — all without leaving the room.
A Hidden Tension in VR Relaxation
But here’s something worth thinking about: what if VR, in trying to help us relax, is actually splitting our attention?
Many traditional relaxation or meditation techniques — like focusing on the breath or scanning the body — ask us to tune into our internal, physical world. But when we engage with VR, the goal is usually the opposite: to immerse us in a virtual world, to create the sensation of “being somewhere else.”
So, we’re being pulled in two directions at once:
One part of us is being asked to focus inward, on the body and breath (in the real world).
The other part is trying to stay immersed in a visually rich, audio-driven VR environment (in the virtual world).
Why This Matters for Immersion and Therapeutic Impact
This split in attention could be a problem. It might explain why some VR relaxation or meditation experiences feel less effective than expected — we’re unintentionally asking users to switch between two modes of awareness.
Immersion is one of VR’s biggest therapeutic assets. When that’s compromised, the overall impact of the experience could suffer.
A Design Rethink: Leaning into What VR Does Best
Until VR technology evolves to offer true embodiment — where users can see and feel their virtual bodies (and which will be a key development) — we might need to rethink how we design and use these experiences. So, what can we do?
What if we leaned into the visual and auditory strengths of VR instead? Techniques that encourage outward attention, like mindful exploration or immersive audio “savouring,” could offer more cohesive and engaging therapeutic experiences in VR. So, outward focus, rather than inward focus.
There’s a big opportunity here: to align therapeutic design with the unique merits (and limitations) of the medium.
Key question for those building and using VR for mental health and wellbeing
Are we designing with full awareness of where we’re directing the user’s attention? Or are we unintentionally creating cognitive dissonance that undermines the experience? And could outward focus in VR relaxation meditation be more effective?
Find out more
Our full article was published in the International Journal of Spa and Wellness.
You can read the published article here
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