ABOUT
Hi, I'm Melissa Yap.
Clinical Psychologist, founder of Spoken Word Psychology
I started Spoken Word Psychology in 2019 because I kept meeting people who seemed fine on the outside, and had learned to cope by saying nothing. They weren't broken. They had adapted, often very cleverly, to difficult early environments, and the adaptations were now costing them.
I work online because most of the people I see are juggling demanding jobs, families, and responsibilities. As a busy mother myself, I know how hard it is to find two hours to travel across the city for your own wellbeing. Therapy from your own space also tends to make it easier to be honest. You're somewhere you feel comfortable.
How Spoken Word began
Spoken Word Psychology began in a single therapy room in South Melbourne in 2019. When COVID arrived, sessions moved online. What I noticed surprised me: people who might never have walked into a clinic, because of travel time, fear, or anxiety about being seen going in, started reaching out. Therapy from their own space made it easier to begin.
I never went back. Spoken Word Psychology is now fully online, based in Melbourne's west, and open to adults across Australia.
What it's like to work with me
I'm warm, direct, and I don't judge. I'll say what I notice, and I'll never tell you what you should feel. You remain the expert on your own life. I bring training and tools.
What I love most about this work is the moment someone starts to see the thread: how something that feels like a flaw today began as a clever way of coping. I work curiously and collaboratively, and I won't tell you what your story means. We work it out together.
I also gently challenge. Many people I work with have rarely stepped outside of their comfort zone, and hold beliefs about what's possible for them that are really just old stories. I love seeing someone find even a little courage to try something new, whether that's asking for help, telling a friend how they're really doing, or joining the dance class or choir they've always wanted to try, and discover it's often less scary than their mind said. I'm still working up the courage to join a choir myself, so I know how big a small step can feel.
I'm happiest near water, with a fishing line and a good sunset, and the lake in this site's header is one of my favourite places. When an idea grabs me I'm all in, and I'd rather make a meaningful gift than buy one. I bring that same curiosity and care to my work.
Qualifications and registration
Clinical Psychologist, registered with the Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA: PSY0001824634). Check the public register (search using the registration number PSY0001824634)
Master of Psychology (Clinical)
Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) with Honours
Registered with Medicare as a clinical psychologist
As Spoken Word grows
Spoken Word Psychology is growing, and more psychologists will join over time, so you may not always be working with me. Every psychologist here will be fully qualified, AHPRA-registered, and chosen for the same reason: they're skilled and they're kind. You'll always be able to see who you're meeting before you book, and each profile lists the specific training that clinician holds.
Are you a psychologist?
Explore joining Spoken Word Psychology →
What we stand for
To give people a safe place to say what they've carried alone, and to understand why.
Curious, not judging
We ask before we assume, and nothing you say will make us think less of you.
Together
You know your own story, and we bring the training. We work it out as a team.
At your pace
You choose what to share and when, and there’s no pressure to say everything at once.
Honest
We say what we notice, gently and clearly, so you’re never left guessing.