Matt Phillips

Educator, podcaster, and neurodiversity advocate specialising in communication, behaviour change, and inclusive practice within MSK healthcare. With a career that began in Strength & Conditioning and later Sports Therapy, his website Matt Phillips Education and focus is now on education, communication training, and community building.

Education

A major part of Matt’s current work is in Further Education, supporting individuals who were let down by mainstream schooling due to non‑inclusive environments, unrecognised learning barriers, and missed neurodivergent traits. His role centres on helping learners develop communication confidence, recognise their strengths, and rebuild a sense of agency in environments that understand and adapt to their ways of learning. This work strongly shapes his approach to clinician education, particularly around accessibility, psychological safety, and the relational nature of communication.

Communication CPD Course

Matt’s CPD course, Communication & Behaviour Change Skills for Clinical Practice, integrates evidence‑informed communication models with neurodiversity‑affirming principles. Rather than focusing on “changing” people, it supports clinicians in creating conditions where understanding can emerge, therapeutic relationships can flourish, and meaningful change becomes possible through collaboration rather than correction.

Neurodiversity

Matt is founder of Neurodivergent Practitioners in Health & Care – a welcoming Facebook community for health and care professionals who identify as neurodivergent—whether formally diagnosed, self-identified, or exploring what neurodivergence means for them.

Although founded in the UK, the community welcomes members from all countries and professional backgrounds. Members are free to engage in whatever way feels right for them, whether actively contributing to discussions or simply observing, listening, and learning.

Originally established as Neurodivergent MSK Clinicians, the community has evolved to include professionals from a much wider range of health and care disciplines. The new name reflects the broader scope of the community and the diverse perspectives of its members.

STA Clinican Podcast

He is also host of the ‘STA Clinician Podcast‘ (originally called the ‘Sports Therapy Association Podcast’), a weekly show recorded live on the Sports Therapy Association YouTube channel, created to help MSK clinicians evolve toward modern, evidence‑informed practice in a supportive, non‑hierarchical space.

Runchatlive

Before shifting fully into education, Matt founded RunChatLive, created the Runchatlive Podcast, and helped set up the first 3D Gait Analysis Lab in Nairobi, Kenya. he continues to deliver the CPD course ‘Gait Analysis for Runners: A Modern Approach‘.

Across all his work, Matt values clarity, curiosity, inclusivity, and evidence‑informed thinking. His aim is to support clinicians and learners through education that is accessible, collaborative, and grounded in both science and lived experience.

And so much more…

There’s far more we could tell you about Matt, but space is running low. He was an integral part in the creation and delivery of our ‘Hands On Hub & STA Conference’ in Exmouth, which we thank him for immensely. He has been a hugely popular speaker at Therapy Expo since it first started, now called The Therapy Show, held annually at the NEC in Birmingham.