The Substack Lives are fantastic, but they are often seen as a one hit wonder. Seen one minute, gone the next.
We have decided to increase the reach of Sessions From The Edge by making these conversations the feature for the entire week after the recording.
The new schedule will start with the Cipherline edition, followed by the Substack Live recording permenantly archived in the Sessions From The Edge Tab, so you can rerun when ever you please and the ReadersKey and daily notes will also expand on the theme of the conversation. It’s a trial and we’ll see how the format is received and then refine it from your feed back.
This time we’re stepping into a topic many Titans know too well, the pressure, the silence and the feeling of walking in to a medical appointment clear and walking out confused.
In this episode we’re joined by featured Titan, Patti Wohlin. Patti shares her lifetime of experience as a medical health practitioner, health coach and guide. She has seen how people freeze the moment the exam-room door closes, and she has seen what happens when they stop freezing too.
After a break from these sessions, beginning again with Patti feels fitting. She brings lived truth, not theory. She explains things in ways that settle your shoulders a little, and that is exactly what this series needs as it returns.
DECODE
Why We Freeze When It Matters Most
Most people walk into appointments carrying far more than their symptoms. There is fear. There is worry. There is the quiet hope that the clinician will somehow understand everything you cannot quite say.
Clinicians walk in carrying their own weight. A full schedule. A screen that pulls their attention. Rules they must follow. A waiting room full of names.
Two tense humans in one small room. No wonder the conversation breaks down.
Patti reminds us of something simple and grounding. We freeze not because we are weak, but because the system is heavy. We lose clarity because the setting demands more of us than we can manage in that moment.
Her message lands softly:
“You are not broken. You are rebuilding. And rebuilding needs clarity more than confidence.”
Appointments are not just medical. They are emotional. Understanding that changes how you show up.
ALIGN
When Preparation Gives Your Voice Back
Patti shows how everything shifts when you spend a few minutes preparing. Not over-preparing. Not memorising a script. Just getting clear enough to stay present.
Here is what starts to happen:
1. You reconnect with yourself.
A small moment of prep helps you remember why you are there and what you need to talk about.
2. You bring your story into the room.
Not scattered details. A simple thread. When things started. What helped. What didn’t. That clarity lets your clinician see the real picture.
3. You gain influence.
You stop hoping they can read your mind and start shaping the discussion. Most clinicians respond well to that. It makes their job easier too.
This is not about being perfect. It is about giving yourself a fair chance.
THRIVE
The Quiet Power of Showing Up Prepared
As Patti speaks, something becomes obvious. Prepared patients do not feel fearless. They simply feel steadier.
Steadiness changes everything.
It helps you breathe.
It helps you think.
It helps you feel like a partner instead of a bystander.
A little clarity turns a rushed visit into a real exchange. You walk out with answers, not frustration. You remember what was said. You feel included in your own care.
Thriving here is not dramatic. It is a quiet shift from “I hope this goes okay” to “I can do this.”
Key Insight
“You cannot fix the healthcare system, but you can change how you walk into the room.”
When you carry a clear story, you carry a clearer voice. And when your voice is clear, your care becomes more personal and more grounded.
Practical Reflections
Ask yourself:
• What do I need most from my next appointment?
• What has changed since my last visit?
• What questions deserve to be asked out loud?
• Who could come with me so I do not feel alone in the room?
A few minutes with these questions can change the entire appointment.
Fama’s Nudge
You do not need to be fearless.
You just need to be steady enough to stay present.
Written by: @Patti Wohlin
 | A guest post by
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This is reassuring to know and will help build confidence. Even though I’m a health professional, when I wear my patient hat and write things down, I still get sidetracked or sometimes, railroaded. In my next appointment, I’m taking my husband with me as a support person. Not to pressure my doctor but so they hear another voice of reason from someone who sees my health struggles and doesn’t just hear them.
Thank you, Sophie! 🙏