For hundreds of years, philosophers puzzled over the mind-body connection: the relationship between our physical body and the feelings, emotions, and mental abilities that define us as human beings. Eventually, philosopher Rene Descartes summed up the mind-body connection as, “I think therefore I am,” which seemed like the final word on the subject.

Then, as we progressed as a society, the mind-body connection conundrum became the province of psychiatrists, psychologists, neuroscientists, and even nutritionists. Today, the mind-body investigation trickles down to a corner table at Café Vermilionville in Lafayette Louisiana.

On the body side of the mind body connection is Brian Melancon. Brian is founder and CEO of a company called c620 Nutrition. In body building circles, Brian is known as “The Mad Scientist.” He’s a fitness trainer with a focus on nutrition, and a reputation for training successful power lifters. Brian is also expanding his love of nutrition to the wider Lafayette community with his purchase of the health-focused bakery, Great Harvest of Acadiana.

On the mind side of the mind-body connection, meet James Huval. James is a psychotherapist. He has a practice in Lafayette called Southdown Consulting. James was a therapist in New York and New Jersey for 20 years before coming back home to Lafayette in the early two-thousands. If you live in Acadiana you might avail yourself of James’s services if you need help in any area of emotional or psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, workaholism, sexual dysfunction, grief, anger, relationship issues, and many other aspects of coping with the demands of daily life.

Although we all know there is a connection between our mental and physical well-being, we almost never discuss this overlap in a professional setting. We go to the gym, but there’s no psychologist there. We go to the therapist, but there’s no physical trainer there. Typically, it’s up to us, individually, to make our own mind-body connection. So it’s a rare treat to have both isides of the Mind Body Connection in the same place at the same time, taking part in the same conversation.

Photos over lunch at Cafe Vermilionville by Lucius Fontenot.