Frequently asked questions.

Dream Fiction creates immersive Virtual Reality experiences that offer room to relax, reflect and discover new perspectives. We combine immersive worlds, sound and guided reflection. Technology is our medium; the human experience and mental wellbeing are at the centre.

Just as you pay attention to your physical health, you can consciously make time for your mental wellbeing: moments of calm, reflection and recovery. A VR experience can give structure to such a moment. It is not a treatment, but a way to pause.

Dream Fiction was founded by Ashvini and Robin and is based in Almere, the Netherlands. Our vision is to be the world’s leading creator of extraordinary dream experiences that free the mind, promote mental health and awaken imagination. Our mission: to make sure VR is used to create room for imagination, reflection and human wellbeing.

We create our own dream worlds in which image, sound and guided reflection come together, inspired by psychological insights. Everything is in one app with several experiences, so you can choose what suits you. And we are open about what VR can and cannot do.

Organisations can experience Dream Fiction during a free on-site demo. The version for home use is in preparation and not yet available.

With a VR headset, you see and hear a digital environment all around you. When you turn your head, the world moves with you. This can make it feel as if you are really somewhere else. That sense of presence makes VR well suited to drawing your attention away from everyday stimuli for a while.

By Neuro VR, we mean VR experiences designed using insights from psychology and neuroscience about attention, relaxation and emotion. It is not a medical or neurological treatment: we do not measure brain activity and we do not make a diagnosis.

We work from three angles: multisensory experiences (image, sound and atmosphere that together support relaxation), principles from cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), such as reflecting on thoughts, and techniques inspired by NLP, such as visualisation. The experiences are inspired by these, but they are not therapy. The scientific evidence for NLP is limited; we explain this on our science page.

VR can immerse you more than a screen: you are not looking at an environment, you are standing in the middle of it. That can help shift your attention. This does not make VR better by definition than other tools; it is a different tool, which some people particularly enjoy.

VR can immerse you completely in a designed environment. Your attention can then shift from everyday distractions to image, sound and guidance. Research points to possible short-term effects on stress and relaxation. At the same time, VR is not suitable for everyone and the evidence is still developing.

We build on research into VR for relaxation, stress and mental health, including randomised studies and systematic reviews. That research is about VR in general, not about Dream Fiction specifically. On our scientific background page, you can read what is known, and what is not yet known.

For organisations and professionals who support people with their mental wellbeing, such as occupational health services and company doctors, HR departments and employers, youth wellbeing organisations, healthcare professionals and organisations with specific needs.

We distinguish three areas: preventive wellbeing (mental maintenance for people without serious symptoms), stress and burnout complaints (as a complement alongside support) and depressive symptoms (only within programmes under professional supervision). On the product pages, you can read who each area is intended for.

We always start with a free on-site demo. We then discuss the audience, the application and the practical requirements together, such as support, space and privacy. Only after that do you receive a proposal that suits your situation.

We work with youth wellbeing organisations to introduce young people and young adults to relaxation and reflection in an appealing way. Always follow the headset manufacturer’s age guidance.

Yes. The current dream experiences show what is possible, but they are not a fixed end point. For specific audiences, complaints or collaborations, we can develop an adapted experience, in terms of worlds, storyline, music and interaction.

We are working on a version for home use with your own compatible VR headset. It is not available yet. Would you like to stay informed? Send us a message via the At home page.

For people without serious symptoms who want to make time at home for calm, relaxation and reflection, and who have their own compatible VR headset.

At home, the focus is on preventive wellbeing: mental maintenance and relaxation. With stress or burnout complaints, an experience at home can at most be a complement, in consultation with your support worker or company doctor. With depressive symptoms, independent home use is not the starting point. We will announce which experiences are included in the home version at launch.

If you have epilepsy or sensitivity to flashing lights, balance problems or are prone to nausea, and if you have serious or acute mental health symptoms. In the latter case, please contact your GP. For children, follow the headset manufacturer’s age guidance.

At the moment, Dream Fiction cannot yet be downloaded from an app store such as the Meta Horizon Store, Steam or SideQuest. As soon as that changes, you will find the links on our At home page.

On the At home page, you can send us a message. We will then let you know when the home version is available and which headsets are supported.

Dream Fiction can play a complementary role alongside recovery and support, for example as a moment to relax and recognise tension. Recovering from burnout usually requires broader changes, enough recovery time and professional support. With burnout complaints, please agree on use with your company doctor or healthcare professional.

Research into VR for depressive symptoms is developing and gives positive indications, but our own experiences have not yet been clinically validated. Dream Fiction is not a treatment for depression. We see the most value in use within programmes under professional supervision. If you have depressive symptoms, please contact your GP.

No. Dream Fiction is intended as complementary support for mental wellbeing and does not replace a psychologist, GP or other healthcare professional. With serious, persistent or worsening symptoms, professional help is important.

Stop straight away, take off the headset and take your time to come back to your surroundings. Sit down for a moment and perhaps have some water. If symptoms persist, or if the experience brings up tension or sadness that stays with you, talk to your support worker or GP.

Contact your GP or, outside office hours, an out-of-hours GP service. In the Netherlands, if you are thinking about suicide, you can talk to 113 Zelfmoordpreventie: call 113 or 0800-0113 (free), or chat via 113.nl. In an emergency, call 112. Outside the Netherlands, contact your local emergency number or crisis line.

The length varies by dream experience and application. In scientific research, VR relaxation moments often last between 6 and 20 minutes. We will announce the exact length of each Dream Fiction experience once the product versions are final.

For on-site demos, we bring the equipment. We will announce which headsets are supported for home use when the consumer version launches.

No. You do not need any experience with VR or games. We recommend using the experiences seated, in a quiet room. You set your own pace and can stop at any time.

With many headsets you can, but it depends on the model and the size of your glasses. During a demo, we check together whether it is comfortable.

No, not for everyone. VR can cause dizziness, nausea or discomfort and can bring up tension in some people. Take care if you have epilepsy or sensitivity to flashing lights, balance problems, are pregnant or have serious mental health symptoms, and consult a doctor if in doubt. Not feeling well? Stop straight away.

Fill in the form on the Request a demo / Contact page and choose ‘Request a demo’. We will contact you to schedule a time when we visit, show you the experience and discuss together what suits your organisation and audience. A demo is free and without obligation.

That depends on the application, the number of users and any bespoke work. Request a quote via the form, and we will make a proposal that suits your situation.

Yes, we are very open to that. We are looking for collaboration with scientific, clinical and practice partners to develop the experiences further and evaluate them carefully. On the About us page, you can read which forms of collaboration are possible.

We would love to. We work with external creative and technological expertise, for example for new dream worlds, sound design or technical integrations. Send us a message via the form and choose ‘Collaboration’.

Via the form on the Request a demo / Contact page, by email at hello@dreamfiction.nl or by phone on +31 85 369 6902.

We only use your data to contact you about your message or request, and we do not keep it for longer than necessary. During a demo, we do not ask for medical or personal health information. You can read more in our privacy policy.