Can Virtual Reality-Induced Awe Transform Mental Health?

By Anam Adil, Contributing Author

Model for awe as a pathway to mental and physical health.¹

Picture you slip on a VR headset and suddenly find yourself standing in the middle of a towering redwood forest. Sunlight filters through the leaves, a gentle breeze stirs the branches, and the sheer scale of nature leaves you breathless. You feel small, yet deeply connected to something vast and powerful. This feeling is what researchers call ‘awe’. However, it isn’t just a fleeting moment of wonder, it has the power to shift our thinking, inspire action, and even reshape our mental health.

Recent evidence suggests that awe is a distinct state in a complex space of eight to 10 positive emotions.¹

A recent BBC Future article explored how VR experiences of nature can evoke awe so strongly that they motivate people to take real-world action, like signing petitions to reduce plastic waste. This got me thinking: If VR can nudge people toward environmental activism, could it also inspire meaningful change in psychiatric care?

Awe as a Catalyst for Change in Psychiatry

Awe has been linked to a range of psychological benefits. It enhances mood, reduces stress, and even increases feelings of connectedness. In a clinical application, VR-induced awe may be used as a therapeutic tool for people struggling with mental health disorders. 

For instance, depression often traps individuals in a loop of negative thoughts, making their problems feel overwhelming and insurmountable. But experiencing awe, whether through VR-generated vast landscapes, deep space journeys, or historical wonders, could momentarily pull them out of that tunnel vision, offering a broader, more hopeful perspective.

Similarly, patients with anxiety or PTSD could benefit from awe-inspiring VR experiences that gently shift their focus from internal distress to external wonder. If a short VR session in a breathtaking environment can elicit a sense of perspective and emotional relief, it might complement traditional therapy in powerful ways.

From Awareness to Action

One of the most exciting aspects of VR-induced awe is its ability to inspire action. Just as a VR nature experience led people to advocate for environmental causes, psychiatric applications could encourage individuals to engage more actively in their own healing process. Imagine a patient who struggles with motivation suddenly feeling a surge of inspiration after a VR session, prompting them to take a step they’ve been avoiding, whether that’s seeking therapy, reaching out to a friend, or simply getting out of bed.

If interested in learning about what VR Therapy is, check out this blog post here. 

Looking Ahead

VR is already making waves in exposure therapy and mindfulness training, but harnessing the emotion of awe could open up an entirely new dimension of mental health treatment. Could we one day see VR “awe therapy” as a standard tool for psychiatric care? The idea might sound futuristic, but given how VR is already shaping behavior in other fields, it’s a question worth exploring.

References: 

1. Monroy, M., & Keltner, D. (2022). Awe as a Pathway to Mental and Physical Health. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 18(2), 174569162210948. https://doi.org/10.1177/17456916221094856

2. Warner, B. (2025, March 10). A virtual reality pangolin made me cry and care more about the planet: Is this the real power of VR headsets? Bbc.com; BBC. https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250306-the-future-of-conservation-might-be-in-vr-headsets