Certain everyday situations can trigger a desire to smoke: the presence of a cigarette, social context, consumption habits or requests from those around you. Immersive environments make it possible to gradually confront the user with these cues associated with consumption.
Used in particular as a complement to a cognitive-behavioral approach, the virtual reality exposure allows the practitioner to work with their patient on craving, thoughts, emotions and automatisms associated with tobacco. Discover more than 250 exposure situations.
Exposure to situations associated with tobacco consumption may be relevant in supporting the patient. However, reproducing these situations in consultation is not always simple.
Some depend on a particular context or the presence of third parties, while their repetition and progression can be difficult to master.
Virtual reality makes it possible to recreate some of these contexts directly in the office, in a controlled and reproducible environment.
The C2Care environments allow you to recreate situations associated with the desire to smoke and gradually integrate them during the sessions.
In a virtual apartment, the patient can observe or grab a cigarette. In an evening context, he may be confronted with a person who encourages him to smoke.
These situations can be repeated and gradually integrated into the practitioner's protocol in order to work with the patient on craving, as well as the thoughts, emotions and automatisms associated with consumption.
VRET
The practitioner seats the patient on a swivel chair and fits them with the virtual reality headset
Using the control interface, the practitioner selects the environment suited to the session's goals and starts the exposure.
During immersion, the practitioner supports the patient using a visual feed and can adjust the exposure scene in real time
Environments
C2Care offers many situations to expose the patient to different cues associated with tobacco consumption.
A cigarette is present in the daily environment of the home.
The offer of cigarettes by those around you allows you to work on social temptation.
The office situation allows work to be a temptation linked to the professional context.
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Solène Montègue
Neuropsychiatrist
The developments C2Care is currently integrating into the interface are very promising and meet the established therapeutic objectives [...]: offering tailored exercises that can be adapted to levels of dependency, cognitive disorders, and patients' real-time responses.
Samia Lahya
Psychiatrist
With the acquisition of new equipment [...] and updates to the C2Care programs, its use has expanded even further: OCD, phobias, addictions, anxiety disorders, depression, and PTSD. Ten years later, it is no longer merely a curiosity, but a genuine therapeutic tool that is stimulating, innovative, and effective.
Sabrina Gineau
Psychologist
I incorporate this technology into brief therapies lasting two to four months, with one session per week. I begin with relaxation techniques and, when patients are ready, we proceed. It makes it much easier to expose people to these situations.
Noël Schepers
Psychologist
Virtual reality can enrich and personalize treatment, facilitate patient-therapist collaboration in developing the treatment plan, and add a playful dimension. The possibilities for development and application are immense and extend to every area of psychology and psychotherapy.
Mélanie Boucherot
Psychologist
The value of this technology [C2Care] lies in offering new possibilities for therapeutic support and expanding the range of tools available to healthcare professionals.
François Maltese
Psychologist
For several months, we have been using virtual reality in habituation therapies. Before the procedure, patients are progressively and immersively exposed to their future medical environment and psychologically prepared to accept it.
Dre Marie-Claude Roberge
Doctor of Psychology
Since 2022, we have been using virtual reality therapy with the C2Care platform to simulate exposure to aversive stimuli and triggers that cause anxiety. Exposure therapy is used to treat specific phobias, including fear of heights, enclosed spaces, flying, dogs, emetophobia, and many others.
Dr Laure Du Pouget
Urologist
Using a virtual reality headset for self-hypnosis during prostate biopsies creates a calm atmosphere for a procedure that can sometimes be uncomfortable, even with effective local anesthesia...
Delphine Py
Psychologist
Thank you to C2Care for providing innovative virtual reality solutions to support CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy)! A major step forward in making exposure exercises easier and helping our patients overcome their phobias.
Kroczek et al. — VR exposure integrated into a smoking cessation program
Virtual Reality Cue Exposure as an Add-on to Smoking Cessation Group Therapy: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Pericot-Valverde et al. — Exposure to smoking stimuli in VR associated with a CBT
A Randomized Clinical Trial of Cue Exposure Treatment Through Virtual Reality for Smoking Cessation
Culbertson et al. — Exposure to smoking stimuli in virtual reality
Virtual Reality Cue Exposure Therapy for the Treatment of Tobacco Dependence
Bordnick et al. — Reactivity to smoking stimuli in virtual reality
Virtual Reality Cue Reactivity Assessment in Cigarette Smokers
Discover more
Depending on your patients' needs, other areas may also be relevant to explore. Discover the different environments available in C2Care.
Create a free account to discover all exposure situations and subscribe directly online
FAQ
Find the answers to the questions most asked by practitioners and patients about virtual reality exposure therapy for tobacco addiction.
Virtual reality exposure therapies have existed for more than 30 years and have demonstrated their effectiveness on anxiety disorders and addictions. C2Care has been testing its software in hospitals since 2016.
A virtual environment is an immersive scene reproducing an anxiety-provoking situation, such as a tobacco shop or a terrace. The patient is gradually exposed to it using the headset, under the control of the practitioner, to reduce their anxiety.
You receive a virtual reality headset with unlimited access to the C2Care software, or only the software if you are already equipped. No other materials are necessary to begin your exposure.
Virtual reality itself poses no known dangers, but cybersickness (nausea, disorientation) may occur in approximately 10% of users. The exposure remains supervised by a practitioner who adapts the intensity of the stimuli.
Yes, a phenomenon called cybersickness can occur in around 10% of people using a virtual reality headset. It results in nausea or temporary disorientation, generally limited to the first sessions.
Practitioners such as psychologists, psychiatrists and occupational therapists use therapeutic virtual reality. It is integrated into CHU, hospitals, clinics and private practices, in addition to support through cognitive-behavioral therapies.
Patients suffering from anxiety disorders, phobias or addictions, such as tobacco addiction, can benefit from virtual reality exposure therapy. The graduated exposure adapts to each profile, under the supervision of a psychologist.
Cybersickness can occur in approximately 10% of users. It manifests itself as nausea or temporary disorientation, generally limited through gradual exposure.
Gradual and controlled exposure facilitates patient habituation. The interactive aspect promotes adherence to treatment, and the adaptable environments allow personalized care for each addiction.
Yes, all our environments are grouped into a single application.
Our technical service can be reached via live chat from your control platform. If there is a problem with the headset, we will diagnose it and, if necessary, provide a return label and replace the defective hardware within 48 hours.
Patients with anxiety disorders, phobias or addictions such as tobacco addiction can benefit from virtual reality exposure therapy (VRET).
France has 15 million smokers. Between the ages of 26 and 75, they consume an average of 15 cigarettes per day, and almost half show signs of tobacco addiction.
cessation is based on graduated exposure to risky situations (home, public places, tobacco shop) associated with cognitive-behavioral therapies. The psychologist accompanies the patient during the session, then the patient continues the exposure independently to reinforce habituation and reduce the desire to consume.
