About Sharon
From lived experience to real-world impact.
I know what it is like when mental health is not abstract. When it is real, when it is close, and when the right response matters.
That is why Sharon does this work the way she does. Not from a distance, and not from theory alone. From lived experience, professional training, and years of sitting with people in real life, not in ideal conditions.
What people need in those moments is not perfect words, or empty reassurance, or more silence. They need practical support, and someone in the room who knows how to have the conversation.
Sharon Gibson is a Te Pou-accredited Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa instructor, wellbeing advocate, and founder of Pathways to Wellbeing. Mental Health First Aid is the core of her work. Alongside it, she offers retreats and one-to-one guidance for people who need space to reset and rebuild.
Whether she is with a leadership team, a group of rangatahi, a whānau-focused provider, or someone one-to-one, the goal stays the same. To help people feel more capable, more connected, and less alone in what they carry.
The work only matters if it helps people in real life.
- Mental Health First Aid should be as normal as physical first aid.
- People do not need perfect words. They need the confidence to start the conversation.
- Culture matters. Whānau matters. Context matters.
- Early support changes outcomes.
- Warmth and accountability belong in the same room.
Lived understanding
Sharon teaches from lived experience as well as training. That changes the room. It brings an honesty you cannot fake.
Straight-talking education
No jargon. No shame. No sugar-coating. Practical tools people can use on Monday.
Cultural grounding
Her work is shaped by Te Whare Tapa Whā, whānau-centred thinking, and the communities she serves across Te Tai Tokerau and beyond.
Warmth with backbone
People leave feeling supported, and more capable. That is the point.
“People don't need perfect words. They need the confidence to start the conversation.”
More than 13 years of wellbeing facilitation. Accredited Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa instructor, listed on Te Pou's national instructor directory. She has delivered training to Te Tai Tokerau Emergency Housing, Te Pūkenga, Kamo High School, and Smart Trade Solutions through He Poutama Rangatahi.
She presented at the Māori Mental Health Conference at Massey University, and co-facilitated with Lisa Bloxam at NorthTec. Her background spans community wellbeing, rangatahi development, and non-profit leadership. Sharon is of Ngāpuhi descent, with hapū Ngāti Kuta and Patukeha, and of Kōtirana (Scottish) and Airani (Irish) whakapapa.
Sharon works alongside others who share the same kaupapa.
Radical self-responsibility, community wellbeing, rangatahi development, and supportive modalities.
Sharon is honest, reliable and professional. Her EQ is extremely high. She connects quickly with people from all walks of life, and her manaaki shows the values she lives by.
Stories of strength, healing and growth.
The most powerful reflections come from those who have walked the path. Here you will find stories of courage, resilience, and transformation, from individuals, schools, and communities who have journeyed with Sharon and Pathways to Wellbeing. Their words are a testament to the impact of compassionate support, culturally grounded care, and the strength that lives within us all.
1:1 wellbeing sessions
Separated by the Trans-Tasman border during COVID, I felt isolated and lonely. Sharon's compassion and grounded presence helped me reconnect with what matters, people, nature, and source. She instilled belief in my ability to heal and take charge of what I could. It's an ongoing journey, but one she helped me begin with trust.
Sharon's unwavering support has taught me the power of simplicity, that life is a journey, not a destination. She's shown me the courage it takes to face difficult days, and how each step builds confidence and strength.
After losing two family members, including my son, to sensitive circumstances, I felt shattered emotionally and physically exhausted. Working with Sharon in one-on-one wellbeing sessions guided me to reclaim my strength over time. I can now be fully present at work, be more connected with loved ones, and find peace even in grief.
Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa
Confidence through shared learning
Participating in Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa in a small-group setting really enhanced my learning, boosting confidence, deepening engagement, and providing powerful peer support. It empowered me to spot subtle shifts in others' wellbeing and strengthened my ability to start meaningful conversations with compassion and awareness.
A safe space to heal
Grateful to have completed the MHFA 2-Day course with Pathways to Wellbeing. Their compassionate, insightful facilitation made a lasting impact, especially given my personal loss. Sharon created a safe, engaging space where real conversations could unfold. The insights I've gained, both personal and professional, are invaluable, and I'm looking forward to where this takes me.
Growing with confidence
Thanks to Pathways to Wellbeing for their commitment to strengthening our communities through Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa training. Your guidance empowered me to grow with confidence. I'm proud to share my certification, knowing my lived experience can now support others on their own path to wellbeing and success.
Practical tools, human impact
Mental Health First Aid Aotearoa gave me practical, human tools to support others. This training helped me recognise early signs of distress not just in others, but in myself too. It's not about fixing things, but about showing up, listening, and knowing when to guide someone toward help. I left feeling more grounded, more aware, and better equipped to support those around me.
Retreats
From the moment we arrived, calmness embraced us. The Pathways to Wellbeing retreat was a gentle invitation to rest, reflect, and reconnect. Through ceremony, movement, and nature, every detail nurtured personal wellbeing and quiet renewal. An unforgettable reset.
The chrysalis in the Pathways to Wellbeing logo carries deep personal meaning for Sharon. When her father passed away, he left behind his gold signet ring. The meaning she found was not in holding on to it, but in letting it go, in surrender and in acceptance. The warmth in the logo honours him.
The chrysalis speaks to that same truth. Change, growth, and the often uncomfortable space in between. The courage to release what was, and to trust what comes next.