Michelle Lai
SaLT
HCPC Registration Number: SL044528
Hello, my name is Michelle.
I am originally from Hong Kong and graduated with a degree in Speech and Language Therapy in 2022. Driven by a strong interest in supporting children’s wellbeing and communication development, I later completed a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology to deepen my understanding of children and young people across educational settings.
I have experience working with children and young people aged 2–18 across a range of paediatric and school-based settings. My clinical experience has included supporting prelinguistic communication, language development, and social communication and interaction skills. I particularly enjoy working with children with a range of speech, language, sensory and developmental needs.
I have a particular interest in sensory processing and integration, as well as social, emotional and mental health (SEMH). I am passionate about continuing to develop my knowledge and clinical skills in these areas through ongoing professional experience and learning.
I am committed to creating positive and supportive environments for communication and learning by building strong relationships with students, families, school staff and colleagues. I believe collaborative working is essential to understanding each child as an individual and helping them achieve meaningful and lasting outcomes.
The Words First value that resonates most strongly with me is keeping the student’s best interests at the heart of every decision. I believe children make the greatest progress when support is tailored to their individual strengths, needs and family circumstances, while ensuring that their voice and wellbeing remain central to the process.
Outside of work, I enjoy exploring different parts of London and discovering new restaurants and cafés. I also enjoy reading, and one book that has influenced me is The Surrender Experiment by Michael Singer, which encouraged me to trust the process of growth and learning.
