Some people discover their calling by accident. Literally. An injury or an illness or divine providence can lead to a vocation. You might call each of my Out to Lunch guests “healers.” But neither started out with the idea of becoming one. They were patients first — searching for relief when the medical system didn’t always have the answers.

That journey led them to very different paths. One through modern medicine and physical therapy. The other through the centuries-old practice of faith healing.

Becca Begnaud is a traiteur, aCajun faith healer. She grew up in Scott, Louisiana, in a family and community where traiteurs were part of everyday life. If you had warts, a sprained ankle, or a headache, you went to see someone with the prayer.

But it wasn’t until Becca was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1989 that she began to take up the practice. A nun suggested she look into healing work. She studied Reiki, trauma first aid and worked in hospice care. Eventually she embraced her role as a healer in Acadiana.

Becca Begnaud, her life as a traiteur began after treatment for breast cancer when she remembered her traiteur grandfather and how he was able to help and cure people, including her

For Becca, healing is community, it’s connection, it’s laughter and prayer. She’s practiced for decades as a volunteer, never charging for her services, and today she continues her work from her office in Lafayette.

Phillip Thibodeaux is the founder of Restore Physical Therapy and Wellness in Lafayette.

Philip grew up in Monroe and followed in the footsteps of his mother, who was a physical therapist. But his own story as a patient shaped how he thinks about care.

At 14, Philip suffered a severe shoulder injury that went undiagnosed for months. By the time doctors discovered a torn labrum, the damage was done. He suffered through three surgeries and countless hours of physical therapy before he turned 30. The experience made him determined to treat patients differently than he had been treated.

Phillip Thibodeaux, physical therapist and owner of Restore Physical Therapy and Wellness in Lafayette where they feature SoftWave Therapy

After working for a major healthcare agency, Philip became frustrated with the corporate approach — overbooking, inconsistent and inconsiderate care. In 2025, after the birth of his son, he struck out on his own. He launched Restore, a boutique clinic that emphasizes personalized care and new techniques like SoftWave therapy.

Becca Begnaud and Phillip Thibodeaux, Out to Lunch at Tsunmai Sushi

Out to Lunch Acadiana was recorded live over lunch at Tsunami Sushi in downtown Lafayette. Photos by Astor Morgan.