Therapy is often imagined as a solemn journey: a deep dive into trauma, a step-by-step uncovering of pain, or a long climb toward emotional resolution. While healing can involve these moments, what if it also looks like play? What if, rather than being bound by seriousness or structure, therapy could be open, creative, surprising—and even joyful? Creative arts therapy and creative arts approaches reimagine healing as a dynamic, expressive process that integrates art, movement, and imagination for holistic well-being.
At Kass Therapy and Hypnosis, Dr. Kass believes that healing doesn’t have to be linear or heavy to be meaningful. In fact, for many clients—especially creatives, artists, and visionary thinkers—curiosity, metaphor, and play are essential to emotional growth. Our therapist, Noah Kass, guides clients through clinical hypnosis and creative modalities, inviting them into imaginative, spacious experiences where healing is not only possible but often delightfully unexpected.
Creative arts therapy supports overall well-being and opens up new possibilities for self-discovery, healing, and personal growth. This process fosters hope, helping clients envision a brighter, more fulfilled future.
Rediscover healing through imagination—book a creative hypnosis session with Kass Therapy and Hypnosis today.
The Role of Play in Psychological Healing
Play is not just for children; it’s a fundamentally human way of learning, adapting, and expressing emotion. In psychological terms, play gives us permission to experiment, try on new roles, and explore feelings in a low-stakes environment. Play also helps with processing emotions and encourages reflection, allowing clients to better understand themselves. It allows us to bypass the inner critic, dissolve rigid narratives, and access the subconscious with more ease.
When clients feel stuck or overly analytical, returning to a playful mindset can dissolve resistance. Instead of approaching their challenges through logic or repetition, they begin to experience a sense of flow, possibility, and relief. Play can also improve communication and relationships, helping clients navigate life challenges with greater confidence.
Through play, clients can develop new skills and approaches tailored to their unique needs, often engaging in making art and art making as part of their therapeutic journey.
Hypnosis as a Portal to Creativity
Hypnosis, particularly the Ericksonian style practiced at Kass Therapy and Hypnosis, naturally lends itself to this kind of exploration. In a relaxed, focused state, the conscious mind takes a step back, allowing the subconscious to speak through images, symbols, and metaphors. Hypnosis can also facilitate the creative process, enabling clients to access visual arts, drama, and music as therapeutic tools for emotional expression and healing.
In this space, a client might:
- Visualize an internal fear as a character or animal—and talk to it
- Imagine a childhood version of themselves receiving compassion or protection
- Step into a future self who already feels confident, loved, or free
- Create a symbolic ritual of release or transformation
- Engage in creating visual art or imagery to process emotions and experiences
These therapeutic modalities help clients discover new insights about themselves and move forward in their healing journey.
These playful, image-rich experiences aren’t just “woo” or abstract. The brain and body respond to metaphor and imagination as if they were real. When a client reimagines their pain in symbolic form, they often walk away with real-world insights and emotional release. This approach is one modality among many and can be integrated into a broader treatment plan tailored to each individual’s needs.
For Creative Minds, Traditional Talk Therapy Can Fall Short
Many of the clients Dr. Kass supports at Kass Therapy and Hypnosis are creatively wired: performers, writers, entrepreneurs, visual artists, and musicians. They often describe themselves as deeply intuitive, sensitive, or nonlinear thinkers. Our clinical practice is grounded in the ongoing practice of creative therapy, supported by extensive training, clinical training, and the expertise of working with those in creative fields.
For these individuals, traditional talk therapy can sometimes feel confining. They want a therapy space that engages their imagination, meets them where they are, and allows them to process on a more symbolic, embodied level. This approach supports adults, teens, and children, helping clients achieve success in dealing with emotional and psychological challenges.
By blending clinical hypnosis with a flexible, metaphor-rich approach, Dr. Kass provides a therapeutic experience that honors creative minds—and helps them tap into their innate wisdom. Commitment therapy is central to our work, and our therapists have extensive experience with patients and patient-centered care.
Therapy as a Collaborative Canvas
In our sessions, clients are not passive recipients. They are co-creators in a space where emotion, memory, image, and possibility collide. Each session becomes a canvas, a collaborative act of meaning-making, guided by a trained therapist who integrates various arts modalities such as visual art, movement, and music. Art is a large part of the therapeutic process, supporting healing and self-expression.
Here at Kass Therapy and Hypnosis, we don’t view therapy as a fixed process; we view it as a living art form, shaped by intuition, attunement, and trust. Our approach includes working with families and addressing family dynamics, supporting each person in improving their lives, and exploring their unique interests. The office environment is designed to foster collaborative treatment, offering different modality options, including coaching as a complement or alternative to traditional therapy. When clients are given permission to play, to imagine, and shape their own healing narrative, something profound happens: they begin to feel empowered again.
Healing in NYC—Creative, Personalized, and Deep
Located in New York City, Kass Therapy and Hypnosis offers a unique space for people who want a more creative, holistic approach to therapy that supports overall health and addresses depression and life transitions. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, burnout, relationship struggles, or past trauma, we invite you to try something different—something that speaks to your inner artist, dreamer, or seeker.
Healing doesn’t always look like a straight line. Sometimes, it looks like a story. Sometimes, it looks like a metaphor. And sometimes, beautifully, it looks like play.
Let metaphor, curiosity, and guided imagery guide your transformation—schedule an appointment now.