Folsom recreation therapist introduces VR

March 18, 2025

Folsom State Prison Recreation Therapist Robert Lombardi is using virtual reality (VR) to help incarcerated individuals. The VR system helps them manage stress, anxiety, and emotional health.

“(We use VR) with some of the population that suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, stress (and) anxiety,” Lombardi explained. “They don’t have great coping mechanisms.”

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Frank Beltran, an incarcerated artist, uses the VR headset to explore distant locations like the Trevi Fountain in Rome. He said this activity brings him a sense of serenity and inspiration for his murals.

“It helps me focus and take my mind off stress,” Beltran said.

Lombardi, who previously worked with Wounded Warriors, uses VR for mindfulness exercises and relaxation. These exercises might include guided breathing on a virtual beach, for example. The technology also aids in community reintegration by allowing individuals to practice navigating crowded spaces and social situations.

This use of VR in recreation therapy shows how creativity and technology can play a powerful role in rehabilitation, offering stress relief, artistic inspiration, and support for reintegration into society.

Story by Amanda Spangler, Communications Analyst
California Correctional Health Care Services
Video by Clarissa Resultan, TV Specialist and staff photographer
Office of Public and Employee Communications