Type of service: Interventions and therapies

The Newcastle Blue Room Treatment is a novel treatment for situation specific anxiety, phobia and fear for children with ASD aged 7-17 years inclusive. The treatment is modified cognitive behaviour therapy delivered by a healthcare professional within an immersive virtual reality setting. No goggles are required. A video showing the treatment can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U-rRC8jc28. Most situations that can be visually and audibly represented can be treatment targets. As examples, here are some of the young people's situations/phobias we have treated in The Blue Room:

• Shopping and managing public spaces

• Going in to school

• Flying, Heights, Balloons and Lifts

• Dogs, Insects

• Crowded buses

• The dark

• Thunder and lightning.

Referrals for treatment are accepted via Community CAMHS team, Community Paediatrician or GP and should be made using the Newcastle Blue Room referral form available at https://www.ntw.nhs.uk/sd.php?l=2&d=9&sm=37&id=276.

Aimed at: Adolescent , Child , Young person

Referral Sources: NHS Only

Specialisms: Exclusively autism specific, Staff and volunteers get autism awareness training