Lyons Therapy - Acceptance and Togetherness: Why Every Artist Matters

Acceptance and Togetherness: Why Every Artist Matters.

By Dr. Gregory Lyons, PsyD, LCPC.
9/11/2025.

For many of us, art was part of how we first found our voice. In grade school, middle school, and even high school, creative expression gave shape to thoughts and feelings we couldn’t always put into words. And it didn’t take much: a pen, a pencil, a piece of paper.

Some of us drew favorite manga characters, not only for the artwork itself but because those characters embodied qualities we admired. Maybe it was their courage, resilience, humor, or independence. Others sketched band logos, graffiti-style names, or abstract symbols that reflected moods they couldn’t yet explain. Still others turned to singing, dancing, or writing. These weren’t performances for an audience; they could be seen as acts of personal expression, identity-building, and a longing to belong. Some couldn’t wait for our art, ceramics, or other creatively based classes, where they could use their creativity to present who they were openly.

These early creative practices mattered. They can be seen as acts of trying on traits and values, using new tools, and then seeing their efforts reflected back through creative work. These can be disciplines that some have developed in their lives, which represent their own specialized creative approach to identifying, processing, and solving problems that they face in their everyday challenges. But for others, even though the creative impulses remain, they do not have a venue to use them. This may encourage them to subconsciously practice their creativity in solitude — in bedrooms, studios, and on screens. Many creators today can feel intimidated by the elements that exist in their lives:

Posting from individuals using social media, which uses algorithms that reward trends over depth. This can also be presented through AI-generated artistic presentations, which often lack a personal reflection of their own feelings or ideas.
Workplaces that undervalue creativity. This can mean that they have to practice a strict, disciplined process that discourages creative, “out of the box” thinking. For individuals who value their creative, free-thinking approach to tasks, this makes them feel very limited and frustrated. Which is a foster vocational or personal burnout.
The sacred act of creating — for reflection, meaning, or growth — can feel lost in the noise.

Art as Social Glue.

Throughout history, artistic practices have not only given individuals a voice, but they have also built communities. Musicians gather around shared rhythms, dancers move together in step, and writers form circles to exchange ideas. Even a simple sketch can spark a conversation that leads to friendship or solidarity.

Today these social groups often form around liked or practiced artistic measures:

Fans who draw the same manga characters often find community in conventions or online spaces.
Bands and choirs build belonging through shared rehearsals and performances.
Dance troupes and theater groups create bonds of trust through collaborative practice.
Even writing circles, graffiti crews, or small local art collectives show how art becomes a reflection of identity and shared values.

Art isn’t only a solitary pursuit — it’s a social glue that gathers people together, whether in person or digitally.

Exploring the Idea of a Guild.

This is where my idea of the Atelier Sanctum Guild™ takes shape. It is not an established group or formal organization yet, but rather a concept that I am exploring. It is a vision for what a creative community could look like today. This reflects back on a long-ago philosophy that spurned me to create a project I called Virtu™. This was a newspaper-format periodical, represented as a form of graphic media for new artists to showcase creativity, artwork, and ideas. The philosophy that drove me to try to establish this idea was the same as I feel about the concept behind the Atelier Sanctum Guild™.

My thoughts on my current idea towards this philosophy involve:

Protecting the creative flame: Encourage other artists by not letting burnout, profit demands, or algorithms define artistic worth.
Practical rituals and tools: Simple practices that help artists pause, reflect, and create with intention.
Camaraderie and acceptance: I want it to be a space where artists and other creative practitioners of any type of art can connect without judgment or competition.
Shared lineage. This can be used to present creative work as part of a long human story, not just a fleeting moment.

Why This Matters.

Research in psychology and creative practice shows that when people engage in self-expression with reflection, pausing to consider their choices, symbols, or intentions before creating, they build confidence in their own abilities. This sense of self-efficacy strengthens resilience, motivation, and connection to meaning.

The idea hopes to present as a sanctuary for all people who want, practice, or crave a communal bond. This involves giving individuals the opportunity to bond in shared practices, social groups, and encouragement, which could transform creativity from an isolated effort into a collective experience. Belonging would reduce isolation. Camaraderie would deepen commitment. And dignity would be restored to the act of creating; whether with pen, brush, voice, or movement.

The philosophy is based on the idea that every artist matters; not for their popularity or productivity, but because creative expression itself is a vital part of human connection.

An Open Question.

This can be viewed as an idea based on nostalgia — and for now, it is not an established presence. It is an idea under consideration: a thought experiment about how artists and creatives from all levels of abilities and media and from all walks of life might thrive best when they are supported, seen, and part of something larger.

Would this resonate with you? Could you see yourself finding acceptance in a community designed to support the creative spirit?