HGAPS Speaker Series: Iony Ezawa

On September 9, 2026, Dr. Iony Ezawa from the University of Southern California presented her research into cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression, focusing on what makes CBT effective and how to deliver it at scale. She discussed studies examining the role of cognitive change and therapist methods in CBT, finding that sustained cognitive change between sessions mediates symptom improvement. Dr. Ezawa also presented work on technology-delivered CBT, including internet-based CBT and a novel social VR platform called Cognitive Behavioral Immersion (CBI). She shared results from a randomized controlled trial showing that CBI delivered via VR led to greater improvements in depression, anxiety, and quality of life compared to flat-screen delivery or a control group, with environmental presence as a potential mediator. The Q&A session covered topics such as age effects, accessibility of VR, dropout rates, data privacy, and the potential for VR to either facilitate or hinder real-world interactions. Dr. Ezawa's website: https://depressiontxlab.com