Private, Present & Fully Heard How Virtual Reality is Reclaiming the Power of Anonymous Peer Support

Thu November 13, 2025 04:00 pm CET

In traditional Alcohol & Substance Use Disorder treatment spaces, anonymity is
often promised but rarely provided. NorthStar’s groundbreaking VR platform redefines what true
anonymity can look like—and how it unlocks unparalleled honesty, vulnerability, and connection. This
session explores how immersive, avatar-based peer support transforms treatment outcomes by allowing
patients to show up fully without being seen, while feeling surrounded by a community. We’ll discuss
how VR group therapy makes treatment more accessible, more private, and more powerful—meeting
people where they are – literally – while protecting who they are.

Format

Talk

App

Foretell Reality

Location

MTX Future World

Duration

45 min

Presenter

Dr. Amanda Wilson
Co-Founder and CEO of NorthStar

Dr. Amanda Wilson is the Co-Founder and CEO of NorthStar and a nationally recognized leader in
addiction medicine. Board-certified in Addiction Medicine, she has founded three pioneering companies
focused on harm-reduction and evidence-based care, including a SAMHSA award-winning national
program that grew to 80+ clinics. Her work has expanded access and led to successful treatment for over
130,000 patients.

Dr. Lisa Chiodo
Co-Founder at NorthStar and CSO

Dr. Lisa Chiodo is an internationally recognized scientist and data-driven leader in addiction research and
care innovation. With a PhD in Psychology and Statistics, she has led NIH-funded studies, authored over
75 peer-reviewed publications, and developed validated screening tools. As NorthStar’s Co-Founder and
Chief Science Officer, she brings decades of expertise to transforming substance use treatment through
scientifically driven, patient-centered care.

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