Using XR Therapy to Support Young People on Probation

We were delighted to read the recent Northern Echo coverage of a pioneering initiative in the North East: the use of XR therapy to help young people on probation face and overcome anxieties, fears, or trauma under the guidance of professional therapists.

This represents a significant step forward in how we think about rehabilitation, especially for younger people whose potential can be shaped decisively by early, well-designed interventions.

Why This Initiative Matters

• Intervention at a critical moment
  Probation is a vulnerable period for young people. The choices, experiences and support they receive now can influence long-term outcomes. Introducing therapeutic tools at this stage offers a chance to redirect trajectories toward growth, resilience, and reduced risk of reoffending.
• Immersive, controllable environments
  XR therapy provides safe, tailored environments in which individuals can be progressively exposed to challenging scenarios or triggers, under professional supervision. This type of immersive therapy can be more engaging and impactful than traditional methods alone.
• Reducing barriers to access
  Young people on probation may face multiple obstacles — stigma, logistical constraints, or a lack of tailored services. Digital tools like XR can help mitigate these, offering flexible, accessible, and less intimidating therapeutic options.
• Combining technology with human care
  The success of such programmes relies not just on the technology, but on how it’s integrated with professional support, monitoring, and follow-up. Personalisation, safety protocols, and skilled practitioners are essential.

What We Believe and Aim For

At [Your Organisation], this kind of innovation aligns with our core beliefs:

1. Holistic rehabilitation
   Rehabilitation should address mental health, emotional wellbeing, trauma, as well as behaviour. Tools like XR therapy expand the toolbox for doing this in meaningful and compassionate ways.
2. Early, evidence-based intervention
   When young people receive support early, especially when behavioural or emotional challenges are emerging, the returns are greater. Evidence-based digital therapies are part of making that possible.
3. Inclusive, accessible care
   Everyone deserves care that’s suited to them — not a one-size-fits-all approach. By embracing technologies, we can help overcome barriers of geography, cost, or social stigma.
4. Partnership & learning
   We aspire to collaborate with tech developers, clinicians, probation services, and local authorities — to learn what works, adapt tools safely, share best practice, and ensure ethical standards are upheld.

Looking Forward

This XR therapy initiative in the North East offers much to admire — but also much to learn from. Key questions for anyone considering similar programmes include:

• What evidence base and evaluation methods are being used?
• How are young people involved in designing or giving feedback on the therapy?
• What support is in place outside therapy sessions (mentoring, counselling, community services)?
• How are risks, privacy, and safety being managed?

We hope this model will inspire similar innovation elsewhere, and we are exploring ways it might inform our own work in supporting young people who’ve had contact with the justice system.

👉 Read the original article from the Northern Echo here.

‍