Seeking Collaborators for VR-Based Mindfulness & Body Acceptance Research

Hi everyone, I’m Melanie Chen, a PhD candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Barcelona. My research focuses on improving body acceptance and reducing body-related anxiety in young adults using innovative digital tools. I’m developing a brief VR-based mindfulness intervention where participants: enter a calming virtual environment, engage in a short grounding meditation, then view a first-person 3D avatar of their own body, while being guided through reflections that cultivate mindful awareness, body functionality appreciation, and self-compassion. The goal is to explore whether combining mindfulness and VR embodiment can promote a healthier, more accepting relationship with one’s body — especially for individuals with elevated body dissatisfaction. 🔍 Who I’m looking for 🌿 Mindfulness / Self-Compassion collaborator (MSC, MBSR, MBCT, CFT practitioners or researchers) To help refine the mindfulness + embodiment script and ensure theoretical and emotional accuracy. 🖥 Unity / VR developer (Master’s student, intern, or early XR developer) To help build a simple VR prototype (Meta Quest 2/3), integrate a self-avatar, and sync guided audio. 🔬 Researchers with Quest 3 Interested in running parallel or multi-site pilot data collection on the same protocol. If you’re interested in collaborating or want to hear more, feel free to message me or contact me at: 📧 melaniechenchi@gmail.com Happy to share the project brief and discuss possibilities! — Melanie Chen PhD Candidate, University of Barcelona