Meeting Clients Where They Are: Harnessing Digital Curiosity in Anxiety and Phobia Treatment

In today’s world, many clients turn to their phones when anxiety strikes. They scroll through articles, watch videos, or search for ways to manage their fears. Sometimes it’s late at night. Sometimes it’s during breaks at school or work. Either way, this digital curiosity is a sign they’re trying to cope.

It’s estimated that there are now over 10,000 mental health apps globally, and studies show that more than 80% of people seeking support for mental health have turned to the internet for information. Younger clients increasingly look to social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram for tips, guidance, and coping strategies. This shows a clear trend: clients are already seeking help through digital channels, often before they even step into therapy.

For clinicians, this can feel challenging. Many clients arrive with information, strategies, or self-guided programs they’ve discovered online. While some of these resources can be useful, others may be incomplete or even counterproductive. Instead of discouraging clients from using their phones, therapists can guide them toward safe, structured, and evidence-based tools, turning digital exploration into an opportunity for therapeutic growth.

Why Clients Turn to Their Phones

Smartphones are convenient, accessible, and anonymous. They allow clients to explore fears without judgment and provide a sense of immediate relief—action in moments of discomfort.

Consider a teenager with social anxiety. They might watch videos on breathing techniques or VR simulations of public speaking. To them, it feels proactive. For the clinician, this is a valuable insight: the client isn’t avoiding treatment—they’re trying to cope in the ways they know how.

This digital behavior signals engagement, curiosity, and readiness. It’s a starting point clinicians can use to integrate therapy with the tools clients are already using.

Integrating Digital Curiosity Into Therapy

The goal isn’t to remove phones or forbid online research. It’s to guide clients toward safe, structured, and clinically valid experiences.

Virtual Reality Exposure Therapy (VRET), such as the programs offered by oVRcome, allows clients to safely confront feared situations repeatedly until they feel normal. These VR experiences can then be paired with clinician-led discussion and reflection. Questions might include:

• “What did you notice during the VR session?”

• “How did it feel compared to how you usually cope?”

• “What might you try differently next time?”

This approach respects client autonomy while ensuring exposure happens in a controlled, evidence-based manner.

Benefits of Guided Digital Exposure

Digital exposure offers several advantages:

• Controlled repetition: Clients can revisit VR scenarios multiple times without risk.

• Measurable progress: Apps provide feedback and pre/post reflections to track growth.

• Reduced avoidance: VR encourages facing fears safely, then testing skills in the real world.

A student afraid of public speaking can use a VR scenario to present to a small audience. Over several sessions, they have the chance to practice and decrease their anxiety. The student can then practice speaking in class with support from a school counselor, building confidence step by step.

Practical Tips for Clinicians

1. Ask about digital habits. Which apps, videos, or online resources are clients already using?

2. Guide safe exploration. Ensure tools are evidence-based and align with treatment goals.

3. Pair VR with reflection. Debrief after sessions to consolidate learning and challenge avoidance patterns.

4. Encourage complementary practices. Journaling, meditation, or guided exercises can reinforce coping skills and self-awareness.

By meeting clients where they are, clinicians can bridge the gap between self-help and therapy, turning digital tools into a complement rather than a replacement for guided treatment.

Conclusion

Clients are already reaching for support—often through their phones. By harnessing this curiosity, clinicians can provide structured, effective, and engaging exposure experiences. Platforms like oVRcome allow clients to practice new skills safely, reflect on their experiences, and gradually face real-world challenges with confidence.

When digital curiosity meets clinical guidance, self-help transforms into structured growth. Clients not only learn to manage anxiety—they reclaim a sense of control, practice new behaviors, and see their fears shrink in a safe, supportive environment.

References

Carl, E., et al. (2019). Virtual reality exposure therapy for anxiety and related disorders: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 61, 27–36.

Freeman, D., et al. (2017). Automated virtual reality therapy for fear of public speaking: A randomized controlled trial. Psychological Medicine, 47(14), 2393–2403.

Maples-Keller, J. L., et al. (2017). The use of virtual reality technology in the treatment of anxiety and other psychiatric disorders. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 25(3), 103–113.