STEM-WEEK at WUNU: the future of VR psychotherapy through the prism of ethics
STEM-WEEK, a week of innovations, is being actively held at the West Ukrainian National University as part of the Ukrainian festival STEM Spring 2025.
One of the key events was a lesson for second-year students majoring in Psychology on ‘Ethical considerations in the use of VR psychotherapy’.
This learning opportunity provided a chance for in-depth reflection on the moral challenges that accompany the use of virtual reality in psychotherapy. Students studied the topics of personal data protection, the importance of informed consent, potential risks of affecting the psycho-emotional state, the possibility of addiction to VR technologies, and the problem of accessibility of modern therapy to the general public. Particular attention was paid to the high cost of equipment, a factor that may limit the spread of VR tools in practice. The lecturers emphasised the need for fair allocation of resources and ensuring access to innovative psychotherapy methods for all those who need it.
The event was held at the STEM laboratory of the WUNU Communications Education and Research Centre. The STEM project was made possible thanks to the support of the Vovk Foundation, an American non-governmental organisation that promotes educational initiatives in Ukraine, the BlueCheck Ukraine charity foundation, and the International Institute of Communications, a non-governmental organisation that actively works to develop education, communications, leadership, and international integration in Ukraine.
The classes were taught by Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology and Social Work, Candidate of Psychological Sciences Maria Bryhadyr and Candidate of Philosophical Sciences Oksana Rudakevych. As part of the Professional Ethics course, students gained a new perspective on VR technologies as an ethical tool for psychological assistance.
