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The Science Behind Viranda

Explore the principles that make Viranda a unique platform for emotional well-being. By integrating psychological insights and empathy-driven interactions, Viranda creates a safe space for users to express themselves, feel understood, and empower others. Learn how our approach enhances mental health through anonymous, supportive conversations, backed by scientific studies.

Psychotherapeutic Principles and Common Factors in Viranda

While Viranda is not a therapeutic solution or alternative, it incorporates several psychotherapeutic principles to ensure a safe and supportive environment for users. Our approach is built on empathy, confidentiality, and ethical support, which are crucial for effective emotional relief.
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Psychotherapy outcome studies identify the relationship between the therapist and the client as key. An empathic, warm, and accepting social connection, with focus on the other, are common factors in various therapeutic approaches. These factors can be beneficial for mental well-being outside the therapeutic relationship and are the foundation of Viranda.
Dr. Naama Hofman​​​​

Dr. Naama Hofman​​​​

Clinical Psychologist​ (Ph.D)​​

Empathy as a Core Value

Empathy forms the foundation of Viranda. Our Vira members are trained in active listening, empathy, and validation, following the Henosis code. This guidebook outlines clear ethical guidelines for fostering deep emotional connections, emphasizing active listening, validation of feelings, and confidentiality.

Professional Oversight and Continuous Training

Viranda ensures quality support through the involvement of licensed professionals, known as Validators, who provide training, oversight, and consultation. Continuous training and monthly “Vent Circles” promote the ongoing development of empathy skills among Vira Friends.

Confidentiality and Privacy

Confidentiality is paramount at Viranda. The platform employs advanced security measures, including encryption and automatic deletion of conversation data, ensuring users' privacy is always protected. No personal information is required for registration, further safeguarding user anonymity.

Addressing Potential Risks

To mitigate the risk of harm, Viranda adopts a non-clinical model focusing on minor concerns. Vira members provide support without offering unsolicited advice or attempting to address severe mental health issues. This approach ensures a supportive, rather than therapeutic, environment.

Supportive Environment and Therapeutic Alliance

Viranda offers a safe, anonymous space where users can share their feelings without fear of judgment. While not traditional therapy, the bond between Ventors and Vira members mirrors the therapeutic alliance, fostering trust and openness.

Tailored Support for Empathic Accuracy

Viranda's system matches users with Vira members based on various criteria to ensure the support provided is relevant and tailored to each individual's needs. Recent research underscores the importance of tailored emotional support, highlighting that the type of support people desire predicts the support they receive, and empathic accuracy enhances its effectiveness.

Our Technology

At Viranda, our technology is designed to ensure that each user receives the most empathetic and relevant support possible. Below are two key technologies that power our platform.
  • E.A.R Score

Measuring Empathetic Effectiveness

The Empathy Accumulated Rating (EAR) score quantifies the empathetic contributions of Vira members, integrating feedback from users to continuously enhance the quality of support. This system ensures that Ventors are matched with the most empathetic listeners, fostering a high standard of care and continuous improvement.

More about EAR Score
  • MatchFlow Algorithm

Optimal Matching for Empathetic Support

MatchFlow is our advanced algorithm that pairs Ventors with Vira members based on key psychological principles such as empathy and relatability. By considering factors like language, age, gender, and the Empathy Accumulated Rating (EAR), MatchFlow ensures each user receives the most supportive and understanding listener.

More about MatchFlow Algorithm​
  • White Paper
Viranda: A Peer-To-Peer Self-Relief System
This paper introduces Viranda, a peer-to-peer system designed to enhance accessibility to self-relief, fostering a transformative shift in the dynamics of emotional support. Viranda incorporates a mechanism for empathy enrichment where trained individuals within this digital ecosystem continually refine their empathetic skills through an integration of ongoing training protocols and real-world experiences.
Full White Paper

Advisory Board

World-Class Mental Health Professionals
R.I.P | 1946-2022
Dr. Josesph Israelsky, M.D.
Psychoneurologist

Graduated with a Medicine Doctor degree from Leningrad University in 1973. Specializing in psycho-neurology, he addressed psychosomatic issues at the nexus of psychology, neurology, and psychiatry. With diverse training across the Soviet Union, Israel, and beyond, he offered various treatments and served as a chief medical officer on a Russian battleship. His expertise encompassed cognitive-behavioral therapy, family therapy, stress management, and various disorders. Dr. Israelsky passed away in 2022, and Viranda honors his legacy and contributions to Viranda’s solution.

Prof. Omri Gillath, Ph.D.
Professor of psychology at University of Kansas
A renowned social psychologist, Omri Gillath is a professor at the University of Kansas with over 20 years of groundbreaking research and teaching experience in the field of close relationships. Dr. Gillath’s work spans social psychology and neuroscience, with a focus on attachment theory, prosocial behavior, and social networks. His dedication to the field has earned him prestigious awards, including the IARR Gerald R. Miller Award for Early Career Achievement and the SAGE Young Scholars Award. Dr. Gillath is also a prolific author, TEDx speaker, and mentor, inspiring the next generation of scholars with his expertise and passion.
Dr. Naama Hofman, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist
A licensed clinical psychologist with a strong academic background, specializes in evidence-based treatments for anxiety, OCD, insomnia, and psychosis. With experience as an Assistant Professor at Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Morningside, and a private practice in New York, she offers personalized care using modalities such as CBT, ACT, DBT, ERP, CPT, and relational psychotherapy. She earned her Ph.D. from St. John University in New York.
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Prof. Avraham Schweiger, Ph.D.
Researcher, Clinical Psychologist

A licensed clinical psychologist in New York and Israel, is a Professor Emeritus at the Academic College of Tel Aviv. With extensive experience in both clinical practice and academia, he holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from UCLA and is recognized as an expert witness in New York and Pennsylvania courts. Prof. Schweiger has published research in various academic journals and is an active member of professional organizations like the International Neuropsychological Society and the American Psychological Society.

Google Scholar
Prof. Avi Kluger, Ph.D.
Prof. of Organizational Behavior at Hebrew University of Jerusalem
A professor at Hebrew University Business School, and a leading expert in Organizational Behavior, renowned for his research on the impact of feedback and the power of listening in relationships and workplaces. His work has earned prestigious awards, including the William A. Owens Scholarly Achievement Award. Prof. Kluger completed his Ph.D. in Applied Psychology in 1989 at the Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Dr. Naava Yoeli-Bligh, Ph.D.
Clinical Psychologist

A licensed clinical psychologist specializing in children, adolescents, and adults, offers therapy at a private clinic in Jerusalem. Dr. Yoeli-Bligh completed her Ph.D. at Bar Ilan University, focusing on the relationship between maternal attitudes and children’s mental health. With extensive experience in diagnostic assessments for children and adolescents, she worked as a researcher at the NY State Psychiatric Institute.

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Shira Hon-Lahav​, M.A.
Psychoanalyst

Shira Lahav, MA, RDT, LCAT, LP, holds degrees in Psychology and Drama Therapy and is licensed as a Creative Arts Therapist, Registered Drama Therapist, and Psychoanalyst. With experience at Bellevue Hospital and Woodhull Hospital, she specializes in therapy for diverse populations. As the founder of Therapeutic Alliance and co-founder of Embodied Minds, she offers public speaking sessions and workshops.

Linkedin

Scientific Validation of Viranda's Approach

  • Research

Mediating Effects of Emotional Venting via Instant Messaging (IM) and Positive Emotion in the Relationship between Negative Emotion and Depression

Journal of Korean Academy of Community Health Nursing 2019;30(4):571-580.
Conclusion:
“This study confirmed that emotional venting via IM is a powerful factor influencing emotional recovery”
Source
  • Research

Minimal Social Interactions and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Greeting, Thanking, and Conversing

Ascigil, E., Gunaydin, G., Selcuk, E., Sandstrom, G. M., & Aydin, E. (2023). Minimal Social Interactions and Life Satisfaction: The Role of Greeting, Thanking, and Conversing. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 0(0).
Conclusion:
A new study indicated that “minimal social interactions” with “weak ties,” or strangers, can substantially boost your happiness.
Source
  • Research

Too Reluctant to Reach Out: Receiving Social Support Is More Positive Than Expressers Expect

Dungan, J. A., Munguia Gomez, D. M., & Epley, N. (2022). Too Reluctant to Reach Out: Receiving Social Support Is More Positive Than Expressers Expect. Psychological Science, 33(8), 1300-1312.
Conclusion:
Study finds that the person being supported finds it less awkward and finds the supporter more helpful than the supporter predicts.
Source
  • Research

Venting makes people prefer—and preferentially support—us over those we vent about

Jaimie Arona Krems, Laureon A. Merrie, Nina N. Rodriguez, Keelah E.G. Williams, Venting makes people prefer—and preferentially support—us over those we vent about, Evolution and Human Behavior, Volume 45, Issue 5, 2024
Conclusion:
Research supports the idea that venting can effectively strengthen social bonds by making listeners more supportive of the person venting, highlighting its role in fostering interpersonal connections.
Source
  • Research

Venting as emotion regulation: The influence of venting responses and respondent identity on anger and emotional tone

Parlamis, J.D. (2012), “Venting as emotion regulation: The influence of venting responses and respondent identity on anger and emotional tone”, International Journal of Conflict Management, Vol. 23 No. 1, pp. 77-96.
Conclusion:
“Research supports the notion that venting may be used as an emotion regulatory strategy and highlights the importance of the reciprocal aspect of the venting interaction.”
Source
  • Research

Strategic Anonymity in the Social Lives of Adolescents

Ellison, N. B., Blackwell, L., Lampe, C., & Trieu, P. (2016). “The Question Exists, but You Don’t Exist With It”: Strategic Anonymity in the Social Lives of Adolescents. Social Media + Society, 2(4).
Conclusion:
Early experimental research has found that anonymous online environments allow users to express their “true selves,” including personal information and experiences they would not be comfortable disclosing in face-to-face interactions.
Source
  • Article

The therapeutic nature of confessions

Hymer, S. The therapeutic nature of confessions. J Contemp Psychother 13, 129–143 (1982).
Conclusion:
The study suggests that confessions have a therapeutic nature and can lead to positive outcomes. It argues that individuals who choose to confess, experience redemption and transformation. Confessions are seen as contributing to the development of self-identity and strengthening object relations. The study implies that the act of confessing, when embraced, can have beneficial effects.
Source
  • Book

Love's Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy

Yalom, I.D., Love's Executioner and Other Tales of Psychotherapy. New York: Basic Books, 1989. Paperback Harper Collins, 1990.
In his book, American psychiatrist Prof. Irvin D. Yalom, M.D., metaphorically employed the term “chimney sweeping” to illustrate one’s therapeutic process. In this context, “chimney sweeping” symbolizes the clearing of an individual’s emotional and psychological burdens, leading to emotional relief and an improved sense of well-being. This metaphor highlights the therapeutic journey of delving into and resolving profound emotional issues, facilitating healing and personal growth.
Source
  • Research

Perceived social support, loneliness, and hope during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Bareket-Bojmel, L., Shahar, G., Abu-Kaf, S. and Margalit, M. (2021), Perceived social support, loneliness, and hope during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Testing a mediating model in the UK, USA, and Israel. Br J Clin Psychol, 60: 133-148.
Conclusion:
Loneliness has been found to mediate the relationship between perceived social support and hope. This means that feeling socially supported reduces feelings of loneliness, which in turn, contributes to greater feelings of hope. 
Source
  • Research

The Effectiveness of Online Support Groups for People With Loneliness and Social Isolation

Vanhalst, J., Vliegen, J., Van Oyen, W., Vanhalst, L., De Cock, B., & Leysen, S. (2020). The Effectiveness of Online Support Groups for People With Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, 470053.
Conclusion:
The meta-analysis has found that online support groups can be an effective way to reduce loneliness and social isolation, improve mental well-being, and increase social connection.
Source
  • Article

The power of listening: Lending an ear to the partner during dyadic coping conversations.

Kuhn, R., Bradbury, T. N., Nussbeck, F. W., & Bodenmann, G. (2018). The power of listening: Lending an ear to the partner during dyadic coping conversations. Journal of Family Psychology, 32(6), 762–772.
Conclusion:
The findings of this study highlight the importance of active listening, especially in the context of stress disclosure, as a crucial factor in promoting positive relationship outcomes.
Source
  • Research

The Roles of Visual Anonymity and Social Identification

Yue (Nancy) Dai, Jingyuan Shi, Vicarious Interactions in Online Support Communities: The Roles of Visual Anonymity and Social Identification, Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, Volume 27, Issue 3, May 2022, zmac006
Conclusion:
This article underscores the significance of visual anonymity in online interactions, especially in support contexts. Users tend to identify more profoundly with individuals of the same gender, enhancing the persuasive impact of their supportive messages. This insight sheds light on the potential for fostering meaningful connections and positive mental well-being in anonymous online environments.
Source
  • Article

How and When Does Emotional Expression Help?

Kennedy-Moore, E., & Watson, J. C. (2001). How and When Does Emotional Expression Help? Review of General Psychology, 5(3), 187-212.
Conclusion:
This study found that by expressing our negative feelings, we engage in a process that can positively help us cope with distress. While it signals that we’re upset, the act of expression serves as a potential means of dealing with that negative emotion.
Source
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