To treat pain,’anxiety or sleep disorders, the Basque company Virtual Therapia, created in August 2022, has combined the natural benefits of therapeutic hypnosis with the immersive power of virtual reality. After two years of’experimentation, it will market its innovation to medical establishments and the general public from December 2024.
In a skirt, sneakers and walker, Madame Gomez resides in Haizpean, a nursing home in Hendaye. There is nothing to suggest that this perky and strong-willed woman is in constant pain. “ Cervical, head, everything », she explains in her strong Spanish accent. She also suffers from anxiety and sleep disorders. “ At times I’m a pile », she confides, with clenched hands, to Célia Sauveur, the establishment’s psychologist. The young woman offers him a V session every weekirtual Therapy – virtual therapy. This is a personalized therapeutic hypnosis program (bonus) using a virtual reality (VR) headset. The octogenarian impatiently awaits this moment: “ Every time, it does me a lot of good “. The objective is to improve the physical and psychological well-being of individuals suffering through their medical care pathways. Elderly people in nursing homes, people with disabilities. As well as patients hospitalized or undergoing rehabilitation.
‘’L’Hypnosis induces in the patient, through speech, a particular state of consciousness. It is characterized by indifference to’exterior and a greatly increased capacity to receive suggestions. This “hypnotic” state of consciousness can be used to amplify, in the patient, the internal resources to fight against’anxiety and pain and make symptoms disappear”, in Ministry of Health
Interactive films
The tool is easy to use because it does not have joysticks. And the helmet is easy to put on, with its integrated sound system and removable harness. It finally has good hold, while remaining light. “ 800 grammes », specifies Pierre Lapeyrade,’one of the two co-founders, from his showroom office in Bidart (bonus), with a view of the Rhune. This virtual reality (VR) specialist co-constructed this innovation with two hypnotherapists, including a rheumatologist. “ We have developed eighteen programs to date. And we plan to create five new ones per year », explains this trained director and motion designer, who himself experienced hypnosis as a child, in the context of his diabetes. In France, VR is already used in the medical field, to treat phobias or slow down Alzheimer’s. The uniqueness of Virtual Therapia is the 360° visibility of scripted and interactive films. Guided by the therapist’s recorded voice, the patient interacts with familiar elements, such as butterflies or birds, using their hands (bonus).
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Increased hypnosis sessions
The hypnosis provided in this way is more accessible to a public unfamiliar with this alternative therapy. Indeed, without VR, it requires placing oneself in a strong interiority. “ However, older people are less inclined to focus on themselves, to visualize, to be in their body, in the here and now. They are often in pain and aging », Develops the psychologist from Haizpean, trained in therapeutic hypnosis. She discovered Virtual Terapia when joining her position at the nursing home in October 2024. Before adjusting the helmet on Ms. Gomez’s head, she asks her questions about her overall condition. Well-being? “ Average, I’m not good at all “. The worry? “ Average, maybe I’m too sensitive, but I suffered a lot. I lost my mother at 8 years old, then my son and my husband. And until I die, I will suffer “. Sleep? “ I wake up at four in the morning, I’m more tired in the morning than when I go to bed “. Célia Sauveur then questions her about her current energy and her pain.
A natural analgesic effect
This interview helps them select one of four programs: wellness, sleep, anxiety and chronic pain. She suggests the last. Comfortably installed in her room hung with family photos, on the second floor of the nursing home, Mrs. Gomez is immersed for twenty minutes in a forest crossed by a river. She sees the water flowing, hears the lapping and the singing of the birds. The voice suggests that he extend his hand. A magnificent butterfly then arises, whose wings she can almost feel on her palm. The old lady then expresses a deep sigh of well-being. At the end of the session, the psychologist, who remained by his side, asked him questions again about his condition. She says she no longer has pain or anxiety. A benefit that lasts for a few more days. “CIt’s like I’m in paradise », underlines this grandmother who would like to have two sessions. But the psychologist, who works part-time, cannot offer more.
For patients followed in oncology
Virtual Therapia was submitted to 17 residents out of the 65 at the nursing home. Only three are continuing the program. “ The others had no effect or were not interested », specifies Célia Sauveur. It was also tested in four other establishments, including Maison Goxaleku in Saint-Jean-de-Luz with oncology patients. “ They have dhelmets available, reservable at any timet through an online system. They can use it independently to treat pain, anxiety and fear », specifies Pierre Lapeyrade. Finally, the tool was tested in a nursing home, in Bidard, for people with mental disabilities. Vertical Therapia works generally on all people, but particularly when they are in an active process », Develops this thirty-year-old. And less on those who suffer from cognitive disorders. “ They have difficulty, even if only to understand. For this audience, we integrated more musical and auditory content, and less text ».
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The medical barrier
After two years of usage study and several digital versions, Pierre Lapeyrade and his partner are marketing the product from December 2024 (bonus). On the one hand, they target medical establishments – hospitals, nursing homes and disabled people. And on the other, the general public: “ Anyone needing psychological or hypnotherapeutic support ». Two of the five test establishments have already signed, the Haizpean nursing home and the Center Hospitalier de la Côte Basque (CHCB) in Bayonne, which wishes to develop non-drug care. However, they come up against an obstacle: the medical environment. “ It is very locked, despite a global dynamic for alternative therapies. Our program is complementary to their practice, but professionals lack time to integrate it into their routine », Develops the one who returns from a lunch with doctors. The day before, he was in Bilbao to present his innovation at a VR conference. It also lacks the financial means to commercially develop its innovation.
♦ Vertical Therapia is developing its tool for the general public. “It will no longer be necessary to travel to see a therapist”, Pierre Lapeyrade.
The click
Nourished by great stories, this surfing and aviation fan keeps his motivation intact. He cites Nicolas who suffers from autistic disorders. “ When he is upset, he can lose his temper. From the first session, he had no more seizures for the two weeks that followed. “. The 27-year-old young man virtually surfed Belharra, the legendary wave of the Basque Country (bonus). But Pierre Lapeyrade really owes his trigger – the confirmation “ that we had to go for it » -, to another old lady from the Hendaye nursing home. Her back was so bent that she could only see her feet. “ From the first session, she let herself be drawn into the film. After ten minutes she was looking up. The nursing staff, and even her, couldn’t believe it. Because she had arrived at the nursing home two years previously in this position.” Absorbed by Vertical Therapia, eshe had forgotten her pain.
Bonus
# Hypnoses, three currents. Eriksonian, humanistic and mindfulness hypnosis – the patient is in an altered state of consciousness while keeping their eyes open. Virtual Therapia is in the latter trend.
The Basque Country Technology ParkIzarbel, located in Bidart, specializes in the field of cutting-edge digital technology.
# Animals in 3D. Virtual Therapia filmed natural settings in the Basque Country and the deep south, into which exterior elements modeled in 3D by freelance artists were integrated. Pierre Lapeyrade tends towards even more realistic animals, “ where we see the hairs, for example “. It carries out production in-house.
# The cost? The tool (kit and full unlimited access to programs) costs 5,000 euros for an annual subscription. The price is not yet defined for the general public, “ but it will certainly be a rental “. The two partners plan to raise funds in particular to hire salespeople.
# “Vivez Belharra” is accessible at the Cité de l’Océan, in Biarritz. Originally, the film made by Pierre Lapeyrade’s other company, Space in VR, was not therapeutic, “but in fact it is really ‘motivational’. We will also integrate it into the programs », Announces Pierre Lapeyrade.
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