The master’s degree in ‘Digital Psychology’ arrives at Cusano University
The training course is organized so that, upon obtaining the qualification, one possesses the skills and knowledge to be able to use the technologies available such as E-Therapy and virtual reality
ROME – From Sicily to Veneto passing through Central Italy: techniques and logics of Psychology are changing which today is no longer limited to exploiting only the potential of the web, but goes beyond it by exploiting virtual and immersive reality. Thanks to digitalisation and technological development based on virtual reality, therapeutic sessions take place in more stimulating environments built specifically for the patient to help them, mainly, overcome traumas and phobias. The II level master’s degree in ‘Digital Psychology’ promoted by the Niccolò Cusano University starts from these new frontiers and boasts high-level collaborations such as the one with the psychologist Simone Barbato, co-founder of Idego. Since its foundation, the company has been engaged in the development of immersive software for mental health with the aim of radically changing the approach to the discipline and supporting professionals, clinics, hospitals and research centers.
“To date we have trained more than 400 professionals – specifies Barbato – they are still a niche but the demand for virtual reality for therapeutic purposes is increasing dramatically. Why? Simple: compared to traditional sessions, this new frontier manages to be ‘activating’ and to release certain emotions such as anxiety, stress, phobias and panic”.
And from here it is a short step to helping the patient decondition them in a protected environment such as immersive virtual reality. Thus the Unicusano master’s degree becomes a solid starting point for refining the knowledge of this available tool professionals from the faculties of Psychology or Medicine. The training course is organized so that, upon obtaining the qualification, one possesses the skills and knowledge to be able to use the technologies available such as E-Therapy, the use of virtual reality as a functional support for meditation, the use of technological tools to improve the treatment of phobias, neuromarketing, understand the dynamics linked to social media when dealing with patients dependent on these platforms, video games and serious games, digital learning (blended teaching), biofeedback and neurofeedback.
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“To date the feedback is extremely positive – underlines Professor Barbato – Virtual reality is a tool that creates excellent engagement and not only due to the innovative nature of the path. The central theme remains, in fact, the acceptability of the therapy : having to face, for example, the fear of dogs or airplanes in a context like that of virtual reality is more acceptable. People are less intimidated and, consequently, appreciate this approach”.
But the advantage of digital psychology and, with it, of the Unicusano master’s degree also revolves around its therapeutic effectiveness. The clinical process times are shortened because stressful situations can be addressed more quickly in a protected context. Or the strengthening of social skills or, again, the induction of states of deep relaxation.