ZeroPhobia - Fear of Heights

InSession/VU University

In-app purchases

About this app

What is ZeroPhobia?

ZeroPhobia helps you conquer your fear of heights. Developed by a team of leading psychologists and therapists, ZeroPhobia offers a complete, evidence-based treatment program. All you need is some time, your smartphone and a basic virtual reality viewer (e.g., Google Cardboard). Our mission is to make evidence-based treatment simple, accessible and affordable.

What you will get

ZeroPhobia is a complete self-help program for specific phobia. A virtual therapist guides you through every step of the way. Six engaging modules provide you with information about the nature of your fear, how to deal with it, setting goals, getting through difficult moments, tackling negative thoughts and practicing with challenging situations. You will practice in a way that is challenging yet completely safe in a gamified virtual reality environment.

For whom?

ZeroPhobia is meant for anyone who suffers from fear of heights and wants to do something about it. For many people getting regular treatment is difficult due to the high costs of regular therapy or time constraints. ZeroPhobia allows you to get rid of your fear in your own time, without having to leave your house and at a fraction of the cost of regular treatment.

Research and scientific background

ZeroPhobia is based on exposure and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), also known as exposure therapy, which has shown to be very effective in treating phobias like fear of heights. The effectiveness of ZeroPhobia was recently tested by a team of researchers led by Dr. Tara Donker from VU University. 192 people suffering from fear of heights participated in this randomized controlled trial. The results of the trial show that ZeroPhobia is very effective in reducing fear of heights. Check out our website (www.zerophobia.app) for more information about this research.

Ratings and reviews

Aside from a long and rather boring intro before you can start with VR, I'm not entirely convinced this will work. The paywall (abt 11 bucks) hits you right after a small "challenge" of getting up a stepladder and, unfortunately, it isn't enough to give a decent impression to see if this app can make a difference. I had hoped to see more of it. If it works, it'll be more than worth the money, but I can't be convinced as it currently is.

Underwhelmed. I really wanted it to work but the VR graphics did not produce any feeling of height at all. They are very amateurish. Most of the dialog and small amount of written material is ok but you can get the same content plus more free online.

This app is truly amazing! After decades of dizziness, nausea, heart-pounding fear when having to climb just about everything, I'm now well on the way to not having to wait on the 'lower level' of ANY thing. I'm calling that no small miracle! Thanks so much, ZeroPhobia team.

What’s new

Improved performance and compatibility on the latest Android devices