Virtual Reality Therapists Accused of 'Manufacturing Trauma' After Patients Claim Their Simulated PTSD Is Too Authentic for Insurance Coverage
When you first sit in the waiting room of Metaverse Mental Health Centers’ virtual clinic, the receptionist—a 3D avatar named ‘TherapyBot 3000’—gently explains that all appointments are scheduled through the portal.
“This is to ensure we maintain optimal ‘presence metrics’ for your therapeutic journey,” they say with a smile that flickers between wireframe and photorealistic depending on your network connection.
For the $89 per session fee, patients can choose from a rotating roster of simulated scenarios: a sinking ship where you’re responsible for a lost colleague’s family dog, a breakup where the ex keeps texting during therapy sessions, or the ever-popular “accidentally stepping in dog poop at a wedding” vignette, which is currently in the “high demand” category.