Following an initial evaluation, patients are first taught basic relaxation techniques. Subsequent sessions then consist of confronting the feared situation, i.e., an airplane, elevator, public speaking situation, etc., through use of the virtual reality equipment.
For fear of flying, a Virtual Airplane places the patient in the window seat of the passenger cabin of a commercial airplane. With a few simple keystrokes, the therapist can expose the patient to the different aspects of a complete flying experience such as sitting in the plane with the engines on or off, taxiing on the runway, takeoff, flying in either smooth or turbulent weather, and landing. The sights and sounds mimic those found in actual flight. Patients experience anxiety as if they were actually on a real plane.
The patient's experience is augmented with the use of sensory feedback provided by a chair with a specially designed speaker underneath. Thus, one can feel the turbulence outside and other mechanical bumps associated with flying.