Pastoral counselors, educators, and clowns

Examines the relationship between the pastoral counselor and educator and does so by exploring a metaphor suggested by a story by Carol Rogers about the famous circus clown, Otto Griebling. Illustrates each professional's duty to "draw or lead out" of his or her client or student, just as a clown does with an audience. Contends that pastoral counseling and education include "drawing or leading out" resources that are within the client/student, which is critical to the healing and/or learning process. Notes that assisting the client/student in developing his or her ability to draw out this inner resource is fundamental to the counselor's or educator's task of empowering the client or student to become mature, responsible individuals. Suggests that seeing one's relationship to the clown, a counselor or educator can be freed to facilitate this drawing out which ultimately benefits the client, student, and community.