My name is Craig J. Phillips. I have a master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from the University of Kentucky. On February 6, 2007 I created Second Chance to Live to encourage a holistic (body, soul, spirit, mind and emotions) approach to ongoing brain injury recovery.
My interest is to not only encourage a holistic and ongoing recovery process in individuals who are living with brain injuries, but to also impact current and future professionals and providers in how they approach their care of and to individuals who are living with brain injuries.
The Process and Journey
I sustained an open skull fracture and a traumatic brain injury (tbi) in an automobile accident when I was 10 years old in 1967. I remained in a coma for 3 weeks with right frontal lobe damage, a severe brain bruise with brain stem involvement. Waking from the coma, I felt like I had been in a bad dream, but then reality became apparent to me as I laid in the hospital bed.
I also fractured my left femur (thigh bone) and remained in traction for 6-7 weeks. After my left femur had healed enough, I was then placed in a full body cast (Spica). I remained in that cast between 5-6 months. After being taken out of the Spica cast, I learned how to walk, talk, read, write and speak in complete sentences. I underwent 2 EEG’s and a battery of cognitive and psycho social testing.
The results were shared with my parents. My parents made the decision to not share the results of the testing with me. Once my external wounds healed, the impact of my tbi went invisible and was never again factored. Factored or considered to be a part of the struggles that I faced through out my life. I was mainstreamed back into elementary school in the 6th grade. I graduated on time with my high school class and then went on to college, although the testing done in 1968 showed that I would probably not be.
Be able to succeed beyond high school academically. Nevertheless, after graduating from high school I went on to university. I obtained my undergraduate degree (in 10 years) and my graduate degree. ( in 3 1/2 years). Undergraduate degree: Theology/Physical Education; Graduate degree: Rehabilitation Counseling. Tested and obtained my national credentials (CRC) and worked in both private and public rehabilitation as a CRC. I had a 20 year history of getting and losing jobs. As a result, I applied for SSDI benefits 3 times.
I applied for SSDI 3 times and was a client of 2 State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). After my 2nd DVR evaluation process the determination was made, by my counselor, that I was unemployable. Shortly after my 3rd SSDI application was approved in 1999. Nevertheless, although I had diligently applied myself both academically and vocationally, I felt like someone all dressed up with “nowhere to go”. No one seemed to want what I had to give. But I am glad that I did not give up on the process and my journey.
The Evolution
On February 6, 2007 I created Second Chance to Live to encourage a holistic approach (body, mind, spirit, soul and emotions) to ongoing brain injury recovery. Ongoing recovery in individuals living with the impact of brain injuries. Since that time, I have written 2154 articles, 12 eBooks, 454 video presentations, 20 slide show presentations and created 28 discussion and keynote presentations.
At the end of June 2020, I had the opportunity to begin giving presentations, that I created from my articles, to encourage and empower a holistic brain injury recovery process. Since June 2020 I have been given the opportunity to present 138 times, with upcoming speaking opportunities. To see a list of these presentations and locations, click on this link. Public Speaking and then scroll down.
Among topics presented is a brain-body connection through principles of neuroplasticity.
Neuroplasticity 2021 Using Modern Arnis, Kali, Western Boxing, Knife and Wing Chun
Brain-Body Connection –Craig J Phillips MRC, BA, Second Chance to Live March 2024
To schedule Mr. Phillips to speak at your event, please see: Contact Me
Among Places Presented and Scheduled to Present
Cleveland Clinic, Medstar National Rehabilitation Hospital, Penn Presbyterian Hospital, Overland Park Rehabilitation Hospital, Adventist Rehabilitation Hospital, Inova Loudon Outpatient Specialty Rehabilitation Hospital, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital, Encompass Rehabilitation Hospital, Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital, Carolinas Rehab, Colorado Department of Education, University of North Dakota, University of North Carolina — Chapel Hill, Harvard University Synapse, University of California at Berkley Synapse, Columbia University Synapse, Synapse National Conference, NeuroRestorative- Charlotte, NC, Brown University Synapse, Temple University Synapse, University of Michigan Synapse, University of California – Irvine Synapse, University of Pittsburgh Synapse, University of California – Davis Synapse and Johns Hopkins University Synapse and various State Brain Injury Associations
During the past 16 years Second Chance to Live has touched lives in these countries:
United States, Brazil, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Russia, China, Hong Kong, India, France, Spain, Ukraine, Finland, Romania, Poland, Croatia, Indonesia, Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Greece, Philippines, Japan, Vietnam, Serbia, Slovenia, Portugal, Morocco, Egypt, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Myanmar (Burma), Pakistan, Switzerland, Thailand, Israel, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Netherlands, Ghana and South Africa.
Click to see: 168 National and International Organizations Using Second Chance to Live as a Resource
A list of my Keynote Presentations and Discussion Topics
Note: I am available to give the below Presentations and Discussion Topics to your group or organization.
Discussion Topics designed to Encourage and Empower Purpose and Hope
You Are Not Crazy. You have an Invisible Disability Discussion Topic
Yes, I am Disabled, but Don’t Count Me Out because…! Discussion Topic
Learning to Accept Ourselves when Other People Can’t or Won’t Discussion Topic
Nine Habits to Benefit from Using the Principle of Neuroplasticity Discussion Topic
Creating Practical Hope in Our Lives through the Power of Identification Discussion Topic
Navigating Life’s Railroad Switch — Finding Purpose and Passion After Brain Injury Discussion Topic
Living and Thriving Beyond Brain Injury Awareness to Create a Good Life for Ourselves Discussion Topic
Embracing Change A Three-Stage Journey to Journey to Learning and Success Presentation Discussion Topic
Don’t Let Anyone tell You, You Aren’t Enough Because…You are Smart, Intuitive and Courageous Discussion Topic
Keynote Presentations Designed to Encourage and Empower Purpose and Hope
Finding Purpose and not Giving Up after Brain Injury
Hope and the Progression of Living our Best Life after Brain Injury
Facing Adversity and Having Options When Life Does Not Make Sense
Making Our Lives Magical after a Brain Injury and Stroke Keynote Presentation
12 Ways to Enhance Our Lives, Well-Beings and Relationships after a Brain Injury
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals, Repetition and Creating Hope After Brain Injury
Brain Injury and The Power of “I CAN” in an Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery Process
Living and Thriving Beyond Brain Injury Awareness to Create a Good Life for Ourselves
Getting Comfortable in Our “Own Skin” Living with a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability
Some Things to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability Presentation
Believing in Ourselves through Self-Advocacy — A Guide to Owning Our Power after Brain Injury
Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury: Embracing Reality and the Journey to Acceptance Presentation
Celebrating Goals and Dreams in the Now, Overcoming Obstacles, Odds and Impacting Generations Presentation
Hope and Purpose after a Brain Injury after a Brain Injury, a Stroke or a Spinal Cord Injury Keynote Presentation
Finding Freedom from Feeling Alone, Isolated, Alienated, Intimidated and Diminished Living with a Brain injury and an Invisible Disability
Keynote Presentations sharing My Process Designed to Encourage and Empower Purpose and Hope
Second Chance to Live and Succeeding Beyond my Special Needs from 10 Years of Age
Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live — Answering the Call that never Came
Keynote Presentations Designed to Empower and Empower Groups and Organizations
Living with Long Covid-19 Invisible Disability — Hope, Encouragement and Support
Empowering Current and Future Leaders in Brain Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation to Empower Self-advocacy in Individuals Living with Brain Injuries Presentation
Invitation to Join our communities
To join both our Second Chance to Live Community and our Building Your Life after Traumatic Brain Injury Community, click on this link and ask to join: Communities
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