About VIC

The Virtual Interactive Client (VIC) is an immersive, AI-driven psychology simulation that puts you in the seat of a psychologist. Using state-of-the-art game technology and cutting-edge AI, VIC simulates fully embodied psychology clients in clinical environments that you converse with through natural, voice-to-voice interaction — as if you were talking to a real client.

Virtual clients are lifelike and responsive, capable of low-latency, human-like conversational cadence. They learn, grow, adapt and build relationships with their therapist, with dynamic internal traits such as cognitive biases, coping strategies, symptom severity, memories and rapport. Clients roleplay cases formulated by clinical psychologists, and instructors can design and share their own cases with student cohorts.

The VIC client roster showing case referrals, therapy-stage progress and performance

HOW YOU TRAIN WITH VIC

OPEN ROLEPLAY

A sandbox to practise and experiment. Choose a client and set the session up your way — time limits, starting rapport, therapy stage, or the therapy type itself, from CBT to basic counseling or risk assessment. Sessions are not saved, so you are free to explore.

SIMULATED ROLEPLAY

A full simulation of the therapeutic journey: intake, formulation, treatment planning, intervention and termination. Clients keep their memories and rapport across sessions — teach coping strategies, assign homework, and work symptom severity down over time.

ONE-STEP CASES

Standalone, focused modules that teach how to handle a specific scenario in therapy — such as conducting a risk assessment when you suspect a client may be suicidal, or running exposure therapy.

BUILT-IN TEACHING TOOLS

An in-session workbook to track what you have uncovered about your client across sessions.
Frameworks for building case formulations, and psychological assessments you can administer to understand clients psychometrically.
Directed objectives that guide you through each stage of the therapeutic journey, reflecting the milestones and checklists a therapist must complete.
Automated end-of-session feedback graded against rubrics developed by ISN academics and clinical staff, unique to each therapy stage, plus a performance score built from your objectives, rapport and rubric results.

OUR MISSION

Our core mission is to bridge the gap between academic theory and clinical mastery by creating safe, simulation-driven environments for modern psychology training.

Through pioneering virtual client interactions, we empower future clinicians to confidently refine their diagnostics, empathy, and response delivery ahead of active real-world practice.

VIC is built by ISN Innovations, the AI research and development arm of the Institute for Social Neuroscience (ISN) — alongside ISN Psychology, a TEQSA-registered Institute of Higher Education whose psychology courses are accredited by APAC, and ISN Clinic. ISN Innovations' mission is to harness the power of AI to deliver impactful solutions that address real-world challenges and unlock human potential.

MEET OUR TEAM

Prof. Antonio (Tony) Paolini

CEO/CSO, ISN Innovations

Professor Antonio (Tony) Paolini stands as a prominent figure in both the bionics landscape and the realm of neural mechanisms of sensory coding. Over the years, he has pioneered research in areas such as electrical stimulation of the cochlea, auditory brainstem dynamics, and the use of conducting polymers in neural recording. These contributions have provided invaluable insights into auditory neural systems and brain coding, shaping the foundation for the next generation of neural prosthetics.

His joint work with Professor Zambetta, another pioneer at ISN Innovations, is a testament to his dedication to blending neuroscientific understanding with AI-driven methodologies. This collaboration further underscores Paolini's steadfast commitment to delving deep into the confluence of neural systems, bionics, brain coding, and advanced computational techniques.

Prof. Fabio Zambetta

CTO, ISN Innovations

Prof. Fabio Zambetta is a renowned computer scientist with deep expertise in AI & Mixed Reality Simulation. Educated at the University of Bari, Italy, he holds a Master's in Computer Science and a PhD in Artificial Intelligence.

Presently, he is honored with a professorship in AI & Mixed Reality Simulation at RMIT University, underscoring his academic distinction and leadership in the realm. Beyond academia, Prof. Zambetta brings his vast experience to the forefront as the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of ISN Innovations.

With extensive industry involvement, he's had pivotal roles in various industry-centric projects. His pioneering research encompasses Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision, and Human-Computer Interaction. Recognising his contributions, he was named a Cloud Research Software Fellow by Microsoft Asia in 2019. Prof. Zambetta's wealth of knowledge and innovation are pivotal as ISN Innovations pushes the boundaries of technology in mental health.

Dr Nathan Semertzidis

AI and Neurotechnology Scientist, ISN Innovations

Dr Nathan Semertzidis is a neurotechnologist working where computing meets the human nervous system. His Monash University PhD, Brain-Computer Integration, reframed machines not as tools we interact with but as extensions of body and mind — a framework since published in ACM Transactions on Computer-Human Interaction and developed alongside collaborators including MIT Media Lab's Pattie Maes.

His systems have a habit of being firsts: PsiNet, the first wearable brain-to-brain interface for augmenting neural synchrony between people (Best Paper Award, CHI 2024); Neo-Noumena, which fused EEG, AI and augmented reality to let people see one another's emotions; and Inter-Dream, a neurofeedback sleep experience covered from ABC News to Engadget. At ISN Innovations he turns that research program toward mental health — including the engineering of VIC itself.

Irina R.

UI/UX & Animation Lead, ISN Innovations

Irina is a 3D generalist with both industry and academic experience. At RMIT University, she taught 3D modelling to students and served as a Research Assistant, developing simulation projects for major defence and industry partners — among them Rheinmetall and the Australian Army. She has also taught operational risk-management to engineers through interactive play, building a strong foundation in instructional design for digital environments.

At ISN, Irina serves as the UI/UX and Animation lead for VIC and contributes to its gameplay design, co-developing the simulation application and its technical documentation with Nathan.

Interested in bringing VIC to your institution?

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