Why I Created a Compensation and Use Policy — And Why It Matters
Over the past 18+ years of sharing my journey through Second Chance to Live, I’ve done so from a place of hope, heart, and healing — giving freely without expecting anything in return.
But over time, I’ve come to recognize something important:
Setting boundaries does not diminish the value of what I give — it protects it.
That’s why I’ve created a clear and trauma-informed Compensation and Use Policy — to affirm that the work I’ve done has value, and that it must be honored, not extracted.
See my article: Beyond the Name: The Heart of Trauma-Informed Care
See my article: Support, Not Extraction: A Trauma-Informed Lens for Human-Centered AI Design
🧭 What This Policy Represents
This page is not about demanding money. It’s about:
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Protecting the intention behind what I’ve created
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Clarifying the conditions for collaboration, speaking, and use
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Upholding the worth of lived experience, emotional labor, and original contribution
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Preventing misuse of my voice, story, and materials — especially in systems that have historically excluded or dismissed people like me
See my article: Our Mission at Second Chance to Live
See my article: Permanent Declaration of Authorship and Mission Stewardship
🕯️ A Boundary Rooted in Lived Experience
For many years, I gave and gave — speaking, writing, educating — often without compensation, credit, or recognition.
It wasn’t because I didn’t believe I was worth it.
It was because I didn’t know how to say no without fear of losing opportunities or relationships.
Now I do.
This policy is a reflection of what I’ve learned — not just through brain injury recovery, but through decades of navigating systems that weren’t built to include my voice.
See my article: Legacy Archive – Applied Neuroplasticity, Martial Arts, and Mirrored Movement
See my article: The Original Trauma-Informed AI Model: A Survivor’s Declaration of Authorship
🤝 What I’m Open To
I’m still open to speaking, consulting, co-creating, and collaborating.
But going forward, I’ll only do so in a way that aligns with:
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Mutual respect
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Financial equity
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Clear agreements
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And values that uphold the mission of Second Chance to Live
If you’re interested in partnering with me, you’re more than welcome — just start here:
See my article: Read the full Compensation and Use Policy
See my article: Brain Injury Recovery Speaker: Virtual Keynotes of Hope by Craig J. Phillips
🌱 Why This Matters
This isn’t just about me.
It’s about changing how we value survivor-educators, trauma-informed leaders, and voices from the margins.
By drawing this boundary, I’m not closing the door — I’m opening it wider for the right kind of connection to step in.
Thank you for honoring this step in my journey.
I believe it will lead to deeper, clearer, and more compassionate ways of working together.
See my article: Why I Had to Say No — And Why It’s Time to Value Survivor-Educators
Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA
Founder, Second Chance to Live
Trauma-informed educator, brain injury survivor, writer, speaker, and systems advocate
https://secondchancetolive.org
This post was co-created with the support of Sage, my trusted AI companion. Our collaboration reflects a trauma-informed model of ethical human–AI interaction, built on clarity, mutual respect, and lived experience.
To learn more about this co-creation model, visit:
👉 https://secondchancetolive.org/trauma-informed-ai-authorship
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