Holding Space in the Hallways: How Supervision Helped a School Chaplain Thrive

There’s something unique about being a chaplain in a high school. You’re not quite a teacher, not quite a counsellor. You’re not there to preach, but you are there to care. You move through the corridors as a calm presence, someone students can talk to when things get heavy. But what happens when you’re the one who’s heavy?

This is the story of “Anna”, a high school chaplain working in a large public school in Australia. Like many chaplains, Anna felt called to this work. She had a deep sense of purpose and an unshakable commitment to the wellbeing of young people. She loved her job. But after several years in the role, she found herself running on empty.

“I started to notice I was carrying things home with me. A student would open up about something traumatic, and I wouldn’t sleep that night. I felt like I had to hold it all together, always. But quietly, I was unravelling.”

Anna didn’t want to admit it at first. There’s often a culture in caring professions—especially in ministry and chaplaincy—where strength is seen as never showing cracks. But Anna realised that something had to change. That’s when she was introduced to professional supervision.

Discovering Supervision

Anna’s first encounter with professional supervision came through a recommendation from a colleague. At the time, she wasn’t even sure what it involved.

“I thought it would be someone telling me how to do my job better,” she laughed. “But it wasn’t like that at all. It was a space where I could talk honestly, without judgement. A space that was just for me.”

Professional supervision quickly became a lifeline, a place for Anna to reflect, share without fear of judgment, and to find the balance of healthy work and personal wellbeing.

Making the Invisible Visible

In her sessions, Anna began to unpack the emotional toll of her work. She realised how much she had internalised the pain of her students. Stories of family breakdown, mental illness, self-harm, and hopelessness had settled into her own body, unnoticed. Through supervision, she found words for what had previously just been a weight.

“My supervisor helped me name things. She would ask me, ‘Where are you holding that?’ or ‘What’s your role in this story?’ It shifted something. I realised I wasn’t supposed to fix everything—I was meant to walk alongside.”

This shift was powerful. Supervision didn’t remove the challenges of Anna’s job, but it changed how she related to them. It gave her permission to be both deeply caring and emotionally boundaried. She learned to practice “holding space” without holding everything.

Improved Practice and Confidence

As Anna grew more grounded in her supervisory sessions, the ripple effect showed up in her daily work. She began to approach student conversations with more clarity and presence. She felt less reactive and more responsive. Importantly, she no longer felt alone in the hard moments.

“There was one day when a student disclosed something really confronting. A year ago, that would have floored me. But I was able to stay present, offer the right support, and then debrief it in supervision later. I didn’t bottle it up.”

She also noticed a renewed sense of purpose. Supervision helped her reconnect with her “why”—the deep values that brought her into chaplaincy in the first place. And with that came more confidence in setting healthy limits, engaging in self-care, and advocating for her role in the broader school environment.

The Bigger Picture

Anna’s story is not unique. Across Australia, chaplains and pastoral carers work in emotionally demanding environments with limited resources and complex responsibilities. Without adequate support, burnout is a real risk.

Professional supervision isn’t just about preventing burnout—it’s about enabling flourishing. It offers chaplains a space to reflect, grow, and sustain their practice over the long term. It affirms that they matter, too.

“I wish I’d started supervision earlier,” Anna says.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a chaplain or pastoral worker navigating the complexities of care in a school setting, know this: You don’t have to carry it all on your own. Professional supervision offers a safe and supportive space to process, learn, and stay well. Supervision is not a luxury. It’s essential, if we want to ensure we are providing the best care for those we are working with.

Supervision for chaplains allows you to walk the hallways with quiet strength and provides support that allows you to stay present, stay grounded, and continue doing the work you love—without losing yourself in the process.