Monica speaks with Dr. Amanda Wilson and Dr. Lisa Chiodo - Co-Founders of North-Star Care, Inc. an alcohol use disorder treatment space leveraging the use of virtual reality. In this episode, Dr. Wilson and Dr. Chiodo share how and why virtual reality therapy can be an effective option for therapeutic intervention. You’ll learn about the future applications of VR for a means of therapy and recovery. Monica, Dr. Wilson, and Dr. Chiodo also discuss how addiction is considered a chronic illness and how to best support loved ones while in recovery. 

“When you have anonymity, you can ask anything...and the ability to be so free, it's a level of freedom that we just didn't even realize how powerful that would be...” - Dr. Amanda Wilson 

• 03:34 How North-Star Care uses VR for Alcohol Use Disorder treatment 
• 10:05 The problems with using immersion experiences for individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder 
• 12:13 Peer support in VR 
• 12:50 Creating support groups in VR 
• 14:30 Types of rooms for VR group therapy 
• 15:35 Accessibility and comfort of VR therapy for individuals with disabilities 
• 18:31 Applications for different avatars in VR 
• 22:38 The flexibility of using VR for therapy and rehabilitation 
• 24:34 How to help loved ones with addiction
• 26:29 How VR can help family members of individuals with addiction
• 28:41 The need for autonomy in recovery
• 31:27 The importance of defining addiction as a chronic illness. 
• 38:42 What is coming for the future of VR
• 40:52 How to incorporate VR more in therapy 
• 42:42 Dr. Wilson and Dr. Chiodo’s idea of ideal technology

1. The use of virtual reality in therapy and support spaces can allow for anonymity in ways that in person and video conferencing can’t. Using avatars and voice changing technology, patients and therapists can create and present a persona that works for their particular session.  
2. Addiction is a chronic disorder and it should be treated as such. We can reduce stigma and increase support to our loved ones who are struggling by reframing and understanding it as a chronic disorder. 
3. In VR, support groups can be created to target specific demographics, such as caregivers with young children or people who have PTSD. This allows for increased opportunity for connection. This is possible due to schedule and location flexibility. 
4. VR allows for an increased sense of focus due to its fully immersive capabilities, which reduces the opportunity for distraction. 

1. If someone in your life has disclosed addiction or a chronic illness to you, try to actively listen and start from a place of compassion. It really important to make sure that you’re also taking care of yourself. When both you and your loved one are in a place to be able to support one another, try to stay present and open-minded.  
2. If you’re looking for therapeutic support for yourself, find what works best for your physical and your emotional comfort level.  
3. If you’re considering VR for therapy, take a moment and reflect on what supportive environment would look like and feel like for you. Be specific. This way you can really customize the best therapeutic opportunity for yourself. 

Dr. Amanda Wilson is a thought leader in the addiction space. Board Certified as an Addiction Medicine Physician, in 2009 she founded CleanSlate Centers, Inc., the first national, award-winning, office-based, clinical program for treating addiction. As the Founder and Chairwoman of the Board, she charted new territory in the development of a Harm-Reduction focused program for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Recognizing the significant barriers introduced by in-person treatment, in collaboration with Dr. Chiodo, they conceptualized a telehealth solution for opioid treatment and Boulder Care was founded in 2017. Boulder uses an enhanced mobile platform as a means of both increasing access to and addressing multiple treatment barriers experienced by people with OUD. While these companies continue to thrive and provide exceptional care, the inadequate options available today for patients with AUD inspired the development of North-Star Care, Inc., a novel approach to alcohol treatment leveraging modern technology. 

Dr. Lisa Chiodo is a developmental psychologist and statistician with more than 30 years of experience leading large-scale longitudinal studies, and is a recognized expert in data management as well as sophisticated statistical analyses. In addition to being the Chief Science Officer of North-Star Care, Inc., she is the CEO of the Addiction Research and Education Foundation (AREF), a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to improve the understanding of care outcomes in patients with addictive diseases. The Foundation has published numerous peer-reviewed studies and has demonstrated thought leadership at the national level, impacting policy in the addiction treatment space. A respected professor and researcher, she has published over 70 peer-reviewed manuscripts and has earned numerous teaching/research awards at both the University of Massachusetts and Wayne State University. 

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