Holistic Healing and Community Support for Trans+ and Queer Individuals with Mood Cycles

Introduction: Embracing the Full Spectrum of Mood Cycling

Mood cycling is often framed through clinical labels and rigid diagnostic criteria for bipolar disorder, but sometimes these approaches can feel restrictive and overlook the lived experiences of those navigating this journey. Each person’s relationship with mood cycling is as unique as they are, shaped by personal histories, interpersonal relationships, and the communities they inhabit. In my work as a relational and experiential psychotherapist, I’ve learned that seeing mood cycling not as a “static diagnosis” but as a dynamic experience deeply influenced by both individual and societal factors offers a more compassionate and effective foundation for therapy. This approach centres on integrating relational, body-centred, and creative practices that resonate across diverse client experiences, especially within trans, queer, and Two Spirit communities.

In our collective understanding of mental health, it’s crucial to recognize that mainstream psychiatric frameworks often impose a limited, pathologizing view that may not fully align with how individuals experience mood cycling (Pilling, 2022). Merrick Pilling’s work on Queer and Trans Madness highlights the ways in which traditional mental health systems frequently pathologize queer and trans identities, often overshadowing the rich complexity of each person’s experience (Pilling, 2022). Moving beyond such rigid frameworks allows us to appreciate mood cycling as part of the natural spectrum of human experience, influenced not only by individual neurotypes but also by societal and cultural forces (Watters, 2010).

As Ethan Watters discusses in Crazy Like Us, the globalization of Western mental health models can lead to a narrowing of how mental health is understood, often disregarding cultural nuances and alternative frameworks that may better serve individuals’ unique experiences (Watters, 2010). Embracing a broader, more inclusive view of mood cycling means acknowledging that clients from diverse backgrounds, particularly those with intersecting marginalized identities, may experience mood cycling differently from the Western diagnostic model. Thus, a holistic framework—one that incorporates community, culture, and self-expression—aligns better with the diverse needs of those we serve.

This post introduces a therapeutic approach that invites clients to see their mood spectrum experiences as deeply personal, nuanced, and shaped by a multitude of factors, including community support and collective care. By viewing mood cycling not solely as a medical condition but as a layered, context-rich experience, we can redefine mental health as a celebration of diversity and resilience. In the following sections, we’ll explore strategies for supporting individuals as they navigate their unique journeys with mood cycling, shifting away from pathologizing language and toward a model that truly honours the individual.

Rethinking the Language of Bipolar Disorder

In the traditional medical model, mood cycling is often classified as a “disorder,” a term that can inadvertently reinforce stigma and restrict how individuals perceive and relate to their own experiences. The language of “disorder” implies a deviation from the norm and risks framing mood cycling as something that must be corrected or cured. However, viewing mood cycling as a unique neurotype, rather than a pathology, can allow individuals to see it as part of a broader spectrum of human experience—one with both challenges and distinctive strengths (Pilling, 2022).

In her memoir, An Unquiet Mind, Kay Redfield Jamison sheds light on her personal journey with mood cycling, illuminating not only the profound struggles but also the moments of creativity and insight that arise from her experiences (Jamison, 1995). Jamison’s reflections illustrate how mood cycling can be a source of depth and originality, contributing to one’s personal and professional life. This shift in perspective—from “disorder” to neurotype—honours the richness of each person’s experience, allowing for a more balanced view that appreciates the unique contributions of those with mood spectrum experiences.

As Merrick Pilling (2022) argues in Queer and Trans Madness, pathologizing language often fails to account for the societal influences and systemic oppressions that shape mental health experiences, particularly for queer and trans individuals. Moving away from the term “disorder” is not merely a semantic choice but a step toward an anti-oppressive framework that respects and validates clients’ identities and experiences. This shift helps reduce the stigma that many feel and fosters a sense of dignity and acceptance within themselves, which is essential for healing and self-compassion.

Moreover, as Andrew Samuels discusses in Politics on the Couch, mental health cannot be disentangled from the social, cultural, and political dimensions of a person’s life. By framing mood cycling as a response to—and interaction with—external factors, therapists can acknowledge the complex interplay between one’s mental health and the broader societal context (Samuels, 2001). This perspective not only reduces shame but also allows clients to see their experiences as part of a collective human experience, rather than an individual failing or flaw.

Redefining mood cycling as a neurotype rather than a disorder aligns with a compassionate, client-centred approach, one that sees individuals as more than their diagnoses. This approach empowers clients to engage with their experiences as part of their identity, embracing both the struggles and the strengths inherent in their neurotype. In doing so, we invite them to see their mood spectrum experience as a valuable aspect of who they are, encouraging resilience, creativity, and self-acceptance.

Body-Centred and Experiential Healing Practices

Living with a mood spectrum experience often involves navigating intense and sometimes unpredictable emotional shifts, which can feel overwhelming. Body-centred therapies provide valuable tools for reconnecting with the body, grounding oneself, and fostering emotional regulation. As Bessel van der Kolk explains in The Body Keeps the Score, trauma and intense emotions are stored in the body, shaping our physical responses and influencing how we experience mood changes (van der Kolk, 2014). Body-based practices like mindfulness, somatic experiencing, and movement therapy invite individuals to engage with their bodies in ways that promote resilience and increase their awareness of internal states.

Sensorimotor approaches to psychotherapy, as outlined by Pat Ogden and Janina Fisher, offer further insights into how the body can serve as a resource for emotional regulation and stability. According to Ogden and Fisher, sensorimotor psychotherapy helps clients build somatic resources—such as grounding and centring—by identifying the body’s natural strengths and abilities to manage arousal and distress (Ogden & Fisher, 2015). This approach is especially beneficial for clients who struggle with dysregulation, as it allows them to develop a felt sense of safety within their bodies, enhancing their capacity to self-soothe during mood fluctuations.

Experiential therapy, which focuses on lived and sensory experiences, complements this by creating a space for clients to explore bodily sensations and movements that may otherwise remain unconscious. In Trauma and the Body, Ogden and her colleagues highlight how movement and posture can affect emotional states, offering clients pathways to shift their experience through mindful awareness of the body’s responses (Ogden, Minton, & Pain, 2006) . This allows clients to observe and work with their bodily reactions to stress and mood changes, promoting greater emotional flexibility.

For clients in the trans and queer communities, who may face additional challenges related to bodily autonomy and societal marginalization, body-centred practices can be particularly empowering. These therapies create opportunities for self-trust and self-compassion, helping clients reclaim their sense of agency and bodily connection. Sensorimotor approaches, for example, focus on the client’s capacity to make physical choices that promote comfort and safety, a practice especially meaningful for those who have felt disconnected from or unsafe in their bodies (Ogden, Minton, & Pain, 2006). By cultivating mindfulness of the body, clients can better detect early signs of emotional shifts and engage proactively with their mental and physical states.

In my practice, I often see clients discover that tuning into their bodily responses allows them to detect early signs of mood changes. This awareness offers a proactive way to manage their emotional landscape, which can be particularly beneficial for those experiencing mood cycling. As Siegel (2006) notes, cultivating an integrated awareness of bodily sensations alongside emotions and thoughts creates a foundation for self-regulation, supporting the therapeutic journey toward resilience and coherence (Siegel, 2006).

For clients seeking holistic support in navigating mood cycling, body-centred and experiential practices offer a valuable toolkit. These approaches acknowledge the body as an essential partner in healing, honouring its role in managing complex emotional experiences and fostering a deeper connection to self.

Art Therapy and Creative Expression

Creative expression serves as a powerful resource for individuals navigating mood cycling, offering a non-verbal outlet for self-reflection, identity exploration, and emotional processing. Wheatley (2012), in BipolART, highlights how engaging in artistic practices can help individuals regulate their emotions and develop a deeper understanding of their inner experiences. Artistic expression enables individuals to explore their feelings through mediums such as colour, shape, and texture—reaching parts of themselves that may be challenging to articulate verbally, particularly during intense emotional shifts.

Art therapy provides a structured yet liberating space for clients to process mood fluctuations. Howie, Burch, Conrad, and Shropshire (2013) note that creative practices bridge the gap between inner experiences and external expression, facilitating a greater sense of agency and control over emotions. This process of externalizing complex emotions can foster self-compassion and empowerment, as clients begin to visualize and engage with their experiences from a place of strength rather than overwhelm.

For clients from marginalized backgrounds, including trans, Two Spirit, and queer communities, creative expression holds additional significance. Art therapy can be a powerful means of reclaiming identity, particularly for those who may have encountered invalidation or marginalization in traditional mental health spaces. Pilling (2022) discusses how mental health systems often lack sensitivity to queer and trans identities, which can hinder self-expression and self-acceptance. In contrast, art therapy provides an affirming environment where clients can explore and represent their identities on their own terms.

In my practice, I have witnessed how art therapy enables clients to explore parts of themselves that words alone may struggle to capture. This is particularly true for those navigating mood cycling, as artistic expression allows them to engage with both the highs and lows of their experience. Visualizing these shifts through creative practices can help clients gain insight into patterns and triggers, which supports emotional regulation and self-understanding. For instance, some clients may express elevated moods through vibrant colours and bold shapes, while more subdued or darker tones might reflect moments of introspection or low energy.

Moreover, creative expression supports clients in building resilience by fostering a connection to a supportive community. Ogden and Fisher (2015) highlight that relational and community-oriented approaches enhance individuals’ capacity to process emotions safely, particularly within environments that honour and validate their experiences. Art therapy sessions often provide clients with an outlet not only for personal exploration but also for communal storytelling, where they can feel seen, affirmed, and understood.

In essence, creative expression offers a space for those navigating a mood spectrum to encounter themselves with empathy and creativity. This process invites clients to reclaim aspects of their identity, engage actively with their emotional landscape, and build resilience in the face of fluctuating moods. By fostering self-expression within an affirming and inclusive context, art therapy becomes a transformative tool that supports holistic healing and personal empowerment.

Grief, Loss, and Collective Healing

A mood spectrum experience is often deeply intertwined with experiences of grief—whether grief for lost time, relationships, or opportunities affected by mood episodes. Francis Weller’s The Wild Edge of Sorrow emphasizes the role of grief rituals and community support, suggesting that collective healing can be transformative for individuals facing profound loss (Weller, 2015). Grief rituals provide a framework where sorrow is recognized as part of the human experience, and community support reminds clients that they are not alone in their struggles. Engaging in these practices allows individuals to honour their losses in a supportive space, reinforcing that grief is a shared, rather than isolated, journey.

According to McCoyd, Koller, and Walter (2021), grief is not only a personal but also a socially situated experience, with systemic factors influencing how individuals process loss. This biopsychosocial perspective highlights how external factors, such as societal expectations or cultural norms, can shape the grieving process, underscoring the importance of validating clients’ unique experiences (McCoyd, Koller, & Walter, 2021). For clients who identify as trans, queer, or Two Spirit, collective healing can be particularly empowering. It validates their grief and loss within a larger social context, helping them to see that their struggles and experiences are shared by others facing similar societal challenges.

In my therapeutic practice, grief work creates space for clients to process their experiences while integrating them into a broader narrative that honours both their pain and their resilience. Weller (2015) notes that grief work can reveal the interwoven nature of personal and communal losses, a theme that resonates deeply for clients whose grief may be compounded by societal marginalization. By acknowledging these intersecting layers of loss, we can help clients navigate their grief not as a solitary burden but as part of a collective experience that reinforces their dignity and self-worth.

For clients with complex family dynamics, as discussed by Campbell (2019) in But It’s Your Family, grief work can also involve mourning the loss of relationships that were expected to be supportive but were instead harmful. Addressing grief in these contexts may include helping clients set boundaries or reframe their family experiences, providing them with tools for self-compassion and healing. This approach aligns with an anti-oppressive framework that respects clients’ autonomy and validates their lived experiences, especially for those whose grief stems from difficult family or societal relationships (Campbell, 2019).

In essence, a collective approach to grief honours each client’s journey, encouraging them to see their experiences of loss not as isolating but as woven into the larger human experience. By integrating grief work into therapy, we foster resilience and a sense of shared understanding that can be profoundly healing.

Creating a Supportive Relational Network

Supportive relationships are essential to the well-being of individuals experiencing a mood spectrum. Relational therapy, which I incorporate into my practice, emphasizes the importance of clients feeling seen, validated, and valued within their relationships. Building a network of supportive connections offers clients perspective and resilience, a crucial foundation for managing the fluctuations of a mood spectrum experience. Within an anti-oppressive framework, relational therapy also recognizes the impact of systemic issues—such as homophobia, transphobia, and racism—on clients’ mental health and relationships, underscoring the need for safe, affirming spaces (Afuape & Hughes, 2016).

Adrienne Maree Brown, in Emergent Strategy, highlights the potential for small, intentional connections to foster resilience and collective strength, an approach that resonates within therapeutic settings. Brown suggests that relationships built on trust and mutual support can form a “connective tissue” that sustains individuals through personal challenges (Brown, 2017). In practice, this means helping clients cultivate a network that not only supports their mental health but also validates their experiences, allowing them to feel empowered rather than isolated in times of difficulty.

A practical tool in building these supportive networks is the concept of a “relapse signature,” which is a personalized set of early warning signs that can help clients anticipate mood shifts. Sharing this relapse signature with trusted friends or family members allows clients to invite others into their journey, creating a shared responsibility for emotional well-being. Establishing clear boundaries and maintaining open communication within this network provides clients with the confidence to navigate challenging periods, knowing they have a proactive, supportive plan in place (Pilling, 2022).

For queer and trans clients, the creation of chosen family and kinship networks often provides a vital source of support that traditional family structures may lack. In Queer Communal Kinship, Robinou discusses how queer kinship bonds can create alternative forms of community that reject normative social expectations and instead foster shared values of acceptance and resilience (Robinou, 2023). Such networks reinforce the idea that family and support systems are not limited by biological ties but can be formed through mutual care and understanding.

In summary, a supportive relational network strengthens clients’ ability to manage a mood spectrum experience by fostering resilience, empathy, and trust. By integrating practices that recognize the importance of community and chosen kinship, therapy becomes a means of empowering clients to build and rely on relationships that affirm their worth and shared humanity.

Conclusion

Navigating life with a mood spectrum experience is not about fitting into a predefined model of mental health; it’s about embracing diverse tools and relationships that nurture well-being. A holistic approach to mood cycling integrates body-centred practices, creative expression, grief work, and relational support, creating a comprehensive framework for healing and self-discovery. For trans+ and queer clients, this approach validates the significance of identity and community in their mental health journey, recognizing the unique challenges and strengths that intersect with their experiences.

By viewing mood cycling through a lens of self-awareness and community support, clients can build resilience and cultivate a life that honours their individual paths. This journey encourages clients to see their experiences not as limitations, but as parts of a rich, complex human experience. If this perspective resonates with you, consider exploring how these holistic approaches might support your journey with mood cycling, offering a pathway to connection, growth, and self-acceptance.

Continue the Convo

If the ideas in this blog resonate with you, I warmly invite you to connect with me. Whether you’re a therapist seeking guidance on these approaches, or someone navigating the challenges of bipolar disorder and looking for support, I’m here to help. You may book individual therapy sessions or peer consultations online. Be sure to bookmark this blog for future insights, reflections, and updates.

References

Afuape, T., & Hughes, G. (2016). Liberation practices: Towards emotional wellbeing through dialogue. Routledge.

Brown, A. M. (2017). Emergent strategy: Shaping change, changing worlds. AK Press.

Campbell, K. (2019). But it’s your family: Cutting ties with toxic family members and loving yourself in the aftermath. Mango Publishing.

Howie, P., Burch, R., Conrad, S., & Shropshire, J. (2013). Using art therapy with diverse populations: Crossing cultures and abilities. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

Jamison, K. R. (1995). An unquiet mind: A memoir of moods and madness. Vintage Books.

McCoyd, J. L. M., Koller, J., & Walter, C. A. (2021). Grief and loss across the lifespan (3rd ed.). Springer Publishing Company.

Ogden, P., & Fisher, J. (2015). Sensorimotor psychotherapy: Interventions for trauma and attachment. W.W. Norton & Company.

Ogden, P., Minton, K., & Pain, C. (2006). Trauma and the body: A sensorimotor approach to psychotherapy. W.W. Norton & Company.

Pilling, M. (2022). Queer and trans madness: Struggles for social justice. Springer.

Robinou. (2023). Queer communal kinship now!. Punctum Books.

van der Kolk, B. (2014). The body keeps the score: Brain, mind, and body in the healing of trauma. Penguin Books.

Watters, E. (2010). Crazy like us: The globalization of the American psyche. Free Press.

Weller, F. (2015). The wild edge of sorrow: Rituals of renewal and the sacred work of grief. North Atlantic Books.

Wheatley, D. N. (2012). BipolART: Art and bipolar disorder: A personal perspective. Springer.