As a medical professional, it is crucial to reach out to the patient's "inner child," projecting empathy consistently.

When I was seven years old, I had open-heart surgery. This led to many invasive tests and treatments, which led to a life-long fear of doctors and needles. When I go to a doctor for any procedure, including brain surgery, I am more afraid of needles than the operation. That terrified child who woke up early in the hospital every day and looked out the window until she saw her parents coming is always part of me.