Ep.266 'Should Sports Therapists Diagnose?' with special guest Anna Maria Mazzieri

In Ep.266 of the Sports Therapy Association Podcast, Matt Phillips hosts a candid discussion with Anna Maria Mazzierri, Director of The ST School,  and Gary Benson, Founder Of The STA, about whether sports therapists should diagnose. They explore the difference between vocational and university routes, the current unregulated landscape, professional membership standards, and legal and insurance implications. Key takeaways include prioritising clinical reasoning and red-flag screening, the value of referral and communication, protecting scope of practice through strong governance and reflective CPD, and the importance of listening to and treating the whole person rather than chasing labels. Chapter Markers 00:00:00 - Welcome to the Sports Therapy Association Podcast 00:02:05 - Meet the Guests: Anna Maria Mazzieri and Gary Benson 00:05:31 - Defining Sports Therapists 00:07:45 - The Challenge of Title Regulation 00:09:33 - Professional Associations and Standards 00:10:31 - The Role of Professional Associations 00:12:12 - Education and Experience in Therapy 00:15:25 - Diagnosis and Its Implications 00:24:22 - The Power of Communication 00:36:58 - The Value of Therapists 00:41:27 - The Importance of Listening 00:49:10 - Red Flags in Therapy 00:54:12 - Conversations Over Consultations 00:55:39 - Insurance and Scope of Practice 00:59:34 - Emphasizing Patient Relationships 01:02:22 - Looking Ahead to Collaboration in 2026 01:06:00 - Thanks to Society of Sports Therapists (SST) and Sports Therapy Organisation (ST0)  Useful Links The ST School Website Sports Therapy Association Website   Want to join the live recordings? Episodes of the Sports Therapy Association podcast are recorded live every TUESDAY at 8pm on the Sports Therapy Association YOUTUBE CHANNEL and FACEBOOK page. Everyone is welcome - you do not have to be an STA member! If you cannot join us live, be sure to subscribe to the 'Sports Therapy Association Podcast' on all popular podcast apps to be notified when new episodes are available. Interested in joining the STA? Use the code PODCAST25 to get 3 MONTHS EXTRA when you join for a single year! In other words, £75 will get you 15 months instead of 12!  Only valid for NEW members. If you are Level 3 (qualified after 2014) make sure you choose the ‘associate member’ option.