Unreal that Feels Real: AI Enhanced Augmented Reality for PTSD and Anxiety Disorders

This talk will share ExpandXR, an AI driven AR technology for improving real world functioning transdiagnostically among patients with PTSD, Social Anxiety, and other anxiety disorders. Using Apple Vision Pro, ExpandXR allows the patients to walk in an immersive real world context along with their treating clinician and interact with more than 100 AI driven characters capable of roleplaying in contexts such as a grocery store, restaurant, police station, or scenarios specifically tailored to a patient’s individual needs. This patented technology has clinical data supporting it, research is funded by the DOD, and early dissemination supported by Apple. ExpandXR is winner of the 2025 UnitedXR Healthcare Solution of the Year, and 2026 Webby nominee.