Psychodynamic Treatment of Excessive Virtual Reality Environment Use

Abstract

This clinical case study explores the psychodynamic treatment possibilities of excessive Internet virtual reality environment use. The client discussed resides in the virtual world Second Life and experiences her relationships in this environment as more real and meaningful than those in her real life. Instead of focusing on reducing Internet use, therapy conceptualized use of the virtual environment as a compensatory strategy of escapism and conceptualized the relationships and process in a psychodynamic paradigm. This allowed the therapy to address the defenses of splitting and the recapitulation of traumatic events that were evident in the virtual world within an environment that was safer for the client to explore. As a result of accepting the use of the virtual reality environment as an aid to therapy, the client was able to gain insight into her intrapersonal conflicts and eventually bridge the virtual environment to her real life to initiate a trauma-focused therapy.