Research Spotlight: Johannes Gutenberg University (Germany)
Researcher: Dr. Felix Vogel
Institution: Johannes Gutenberg University
Focus: Applying immersive virtual reality to clinical psychology and psychotherapy training
Transforming Clinical Training Through Immersive Simulation
Preparing future psychotherapists requires more than theory. Students need opportunities to practice difficult conversations, navigate complex family dynamics, and build clinical confidence before working with real clients.
Curio is partnering with Dr. Felix Vogel at the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz in Germany to create immersive virtual reality environments that allow psychology and psychotherapy students to engage in realistic clinical scenarios within a controlled setting.
Using virtual reality, students can participate in simulated therapy sessions, practice therapeutic techniques, and receive feedback on their interactions—all without the logistical challenges of coordinating live role-play sessions.
The Challenge
For psychology and psychotherapy programs around the world, providing meaningful clinical practice opportunities can be difficult.
Students need repeated exposure to complex conversations, family dynamics, and therapeutic decision-making before working with real clients. Traditional role-play exercises can be valuable, but they often require substantial faculty coordination and may only approximate the emotional and contextual complexity of real therapy sessions. The use of standardized or simulated patients is similarly resource-intensive and can be particularly difficult to implement in child and adolescent psychotherapy training. Moreover, peer role-plays in which students are asked to portray children or adolescents with mental health problems often lack realism, especially with regard to developmental, emotional, and interactional aspects of clinical encounters.
Professor Vogel’s work focuses on finding innovative ways to help students develop these critical skills while maintaining the highest standards of clinical education.
Curio’s Solution
Curio built an immersive therapy environment where students can interact with one another inside a clinical setting. Within this immersive space, students enter a realistic clinical office and participate in simulated therapy sessions using customizable avatars. Students may assume different roles, such as:
- Therapist
- Child or adolescent client
- Parent or guardian
- Observer or evaluator
Together, they participate in structured clinical simulations designed to mirror real-world psychotherapy situations.
This environment allows students to:
- Practice therapeutic communication skills
- Navigate challenging family interactions
- Build confidence before entering clinical placements
- Experience realistic scenarios in a safe learning environment
- Participate in repeated practice sessions without additional physical resources
“Virtual reality offers a promising way to enhance traditional clinical training by providing immersive, structured, and repeatable opportunities to practice challenging therapeutic situations. Our research explores how realistic simulations can support students in building confidence, developing clinical skills, and preparing for real-world patient interactions.”
Dr. Felix Vogel
