VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. — Beau Armistead, the director of Sojourn Counseling in Vestavia Hills, is being recognized for his efforts to provide trauma therapy to those who cannot afford it. Armistead, who specializes in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), organizes an annual event to raise funds for this cause.
“There is a misconception that PTSD is just for veterans,” Armistead said. “But post-traumatic stress syndrome is a diagnosis of trauma. Our brain can’t process trauma, and that can result in a diagnosis of PTSD.”
Armistead explained that PTSD can affect anyone who has experienced trauma, including childhood abuse, domestic violence, accidents, and acts of crime. “Anything that causes trauma can impact your brain and can result in PTSD,” he said.
He noted that trauma impacts both the brain and the body, leading to psychological and physiological effects. “Our bodies hold on to trauma, and so oftentimes when you see people who have had ongoing trauma over the course of their life, they’ll have physical ailments,” Armistead said, citing autoimmune disorders and gastrointestinal issues as examples.
To support those in need, Armistead and his associates host the annual Run, Ride, Rumbleevent. “It’s a 5K that a lot of people run,” Armistead said. “The bicycle part of it is the ride, and there’s a 23 and 45-mile option on the ride. There’s a motorcycle ride which is an hour and a half from Riders Harley Davidson in Trussville to Cahaba Brewing in Avondale, with a police escort.”
The funds raised ensure that individuals who cannot afford therapy still receive proper treatment. Armistead emphasized the effectiveness of the therapy offered at Sojourn Counseling, which includes EMDR therapy, brain spotting, and micro neurofeedback. “That healing not only brings mental and emotional healing, it also brings physical healing,” he said.
Armistead has helped provide services to more than 800 clients, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars. “I love to be able to see people experience healing and get their life back, get relationships back, be able to hold jobs the way they used to, and just live life in a way that feels more normal,” he said. “To be trusted to be on this journey of healing with them is very much a privilege.”
