Clowning, Fooling, and IFS: Embodied Tools for Neurodivergence, Trauma Healing, and Burnout Prevention — with Holly Stoppit
Episode Summary
In this episode of Movement Is My Constant, I explore the transformative potential of clowning therapy, fooling performance, and Internal Family Systems (IFS) parts work with Holly Stoppit — facilitator, dramatherapist, and artistic director of Beyond The Ridiculous. Holly shares how these creative therapy approaches combine performance, embodiment, and psychology to support neurodivergence, trauma healing, and burnout prevention.
We discuss how embodying different parts of ourselves through movement-based therapy and playful improvisation can foster resilience, deepen embodied self-awareness, and open new pathways for growth. Whether you are a therapist, movement practitioner, or someone exploring self-development beyond thought, this conversation offers practical insight into the mind–body connection.
What We Cover
Home is Right Here, Wherever I Am — Holly’s poem, read by me, on the value of kinesthetic learning and embodied presence.
The creative nature of “parts work” in IFS, and how it helps create healthy distance from challenging inner voices.
Why pushing for awareness too quickly can lead to burnout, and how fooling can help break the cycle.
How meditation begins before the cushion — posture, breath, and arriving as you are — plus Holly’s own tips for building a sustainable practice.
About the Guest
Holly Stoppit is the artistic director of Beyond The Ridiculous, a collective of solo improvisers who use authentic impulses to create truthful performance. As a facilitator, educator, dramatherapist, IFS therapist, clinical supervisor, and creative consultant, Holly offers embodied, creative, and reflective approaches to exploring the human condition.
Call to Action
If you want to understand why certain behaviours still drive actions you wish to change — or if you work with others to uncover unconscious patterns — this episode is for you. It offers fresh perspectives on using clowning in therapy, fooling for self-discovery, and somatic approaches to trauma recovery.
We also explore how movement-based therapy can complement meditation and mindfulness, shifting from constant “doing” into genuine “being.” I share how my own teacher training shaped this approach, with a new US-based cohort opening soon. Find out more here and use this link to join, and your registration will also support the podcast.
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