Who are we
We want to make the lives of people with mental health problems a little better by developing and researching VR applications. We are a research team of the University Center Psychiatry in Groningen as part of the University Medical Center Groningen, led by prof.dr. Wim Veling.
Researchers
Prof. dr. Wim Veling
Head Virtual Reality Mental Health lab and psychiatrist at the UMCG. Always looking for better treatments for people with psychiatric problems.
Prof. dr. Marieke Pijnenborg
Professor of clinical psychology in psychotic disorders and head of research for Long-term Care GGZ Drenthe, clinician, pro-inclusion and anti-stigma.
Dr. Elise van der Stouwe
As a psychologist and researcher, she enjoys working together on innovative interventions and treatment methods with the aim of contributing to better care.
Dr. Catheleine van Driel
Doctor in training to be a psychiatrist and researcher. Particular interest in stress-reducing interventions for patients with psychiatric disorders.
Dr. Chris Geraets
VR researcher of the psychosis department. With the help of research I try to find out what the working ingredients of our VR interventions are.
Saskia Nijman, MSc
Psychologist and researcher. I want to unravel how we can improve social interaction using the DiSCoVR project in people with a psychotic disorder.
Maureen Berkhof, MSc
By researching the effectiveness of VR-CBT, I hope to be able to help people with a psychotic disorder to improve their social functioning.
Dauw Muijsson, MSc
I am researching VR-SOAP, an intervention aimed at the social functioning of young adults with psychotic complaints.
Bart Lestestuiver
Research assistant. With VRelax I hope to investigate whether we can reduce the tension that people experience with virtual worlds.
Erna van ‘t Hag
Coordinator scientific research at the UCP. I am committed to continuity, growth and development of research for better care and treatment.
Lisanne Robbemond, MSc
PhD candidate. By doing research on VRelax, I hope to contribute to the reduction of stress in people with psychiatric disorders.
Ivo Meins, MSc
PhD candidate. With the new VR treatment “VR-SOAP” we try to improve the social functioning of young people with psychotic complaints.
Marit Hidding
Research assistant. In the VirtuS research I help to investigate the effect of VR exercises on self-criticism and self-compassion.
Kasja Woicik
GZ psychologist Penitentiary Institution Vught and PhD candidate VR-TRAC – Virtual Reality Training for Aggression Control – with detainees.
Ron Haarms
Psychologist and researcher at the Center for Transcultural Psychiatry Veldzicht, where I conduct research among asylum seekers who suffer from psychotic complaints.
Mathijs Nijland
PhD student and psychiatrist concerned with stress reduction .