Matt Thomas
Matt is a holistic coaching practitioner accredited with EMCC Global and Addiction Professionals, and a fully qualified mediator with London School of Mediation and National Family Mediation. He is a co-founder and currently Chair Of Trustees of the charity Music Support which provides help and support to those in the UK music industry with addiction and mental health issues.
Matt Thomas is a freelance consultant to Forward Trust with special responsibility for the Taking Action on Addiction and Addiction Awareness Week Campaigns, which he has been helping to develop for the last three years.
Matt combines his extensive experience in the mental health and addiction recovery fields with a background spanning 30 years in the music industry, to bring a unique perspective to his work in the field.
As an EMCC Accredited Holistic Coaching Practitioner and certified Addiction Professional, Matt is highly trusted in the realm of personal support for mental health, dependency, and addiction recovery, and is dedicated to reducing stigma, increasing prevention, and improving access to appropriate, ethical and accountable help.
As well as being a co-founder and Chair of Trustees for Music Support, a charity that provides vital assistance to individuals in the UK music industry facing addiction and mental health issues, alongside numerous training and prevention activities, Matt is a co-founder and director of Attune, which provides Duty of Care services to the entertainment and sports industries.
Via Taking Action on Addiction, Matt has worked with numerous TV and radio programmes including The Archers, Emmerdale and Casualty, where he has provided consultation on addiction-related storylines and scripts. Matt has worked with documentary makers including Channel 4’s award-winning Will Young: Losing My Twin Rupert (whose director spoke at DB Recovery+UKESAD 2022).
Matt’s role as a recovery practitioner and support coordinator has allowed him to provide essential services to clients, specialising in those who come from the entertainment and sports industries. He has accompanied many clients during vulnerable times, ensuring their safety during work commitments and facilitating support systems and treatment plans.
Matt is a qualified mediator and has been providing dispute-resolution and advocacy services to the entertainment and creative industries, since 2013.
Matt’s personal journey of recovery has ignited his passion for supporting others in their own recovery journeys. As a public speaker and panellist, he creates a profound connection with audiences, offering an experience-based perspective that fosters empathy and understanding with an unwavering commitment to driving positive change.