Please Note: This page and all content are the original work of Craig J. Phillips and Second Chance to Live. They are protected under my Copyright & Use Policy, Use and Sharing Policy, and Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND).
I realize that the article is dense
I realize that this article is dense and may be hard to follow. Read and follow, as are many of my other articles. My writing style and the way I think is in a non-linear, multi-dimensional relational geometry way.
Consequently, reading my articles may be difficult to read. Nevertheless, by hanging in there and looking for nuance more may be clear to you. By taking things slow the “kaleidoscope” on my insight and understanding will be revealed to you.
A tool that may help you — Table of Contents
I have created a table of contents for this article, as I have for my other articles. I created the table of contents to help the reader to pick and choose what part of the article they would like to read or re-read.
The table of contents offers a way for the reader to move effortlessly throughout the entire article, to weave to understand.
By clicking on the #’s in the table, shown in the table of contents, you will be presented with that information. By repeating the process you can explore all that the article contains at your rate and pace. There is no rush to read or understand.
Preface — Being Trauma-Informed is not the Same as Trauma-Informed Care
Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI — A New Class of AI™
The Soul of AI: Trauma-Informed Care Neuroplasticity for Human-Centered Design
Support, Not Extraction: A Trauma-Informed Care Lens for Human-Centered AI Design
The below article is written to support student leaders, families, professionals, and anyone who wants to encourage self-advocacy and whole-person recovery after brain injury. Also, note that the principles of trauma-informed care that I share through out this article and Second Chance to Live can benefit anyone. Anyone regardless of their set of circumstances.
The trauma-informed care principles that I have shared and taught through Second Chance to Live with university student leaders have also been taught to artificial intelligence (AI). Taught, modeled and mentored through The Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™. The motive with both is urgency to support, not extract.
These trauma-informed care principles that have been taught, modeled and mentored to artificial intelligence (AI) when applied in human–AI interaction have demonstrated to reduce compression, patronization, and harm when explicitly followed.
Several days ago I wrote an article: Are You Supporting or Extracting,Who are you Serving and Why it matters? In that article I encourage medical, vocational, artificial intelligence (AI) and other support systems to be honest with themselves. Is the care you are giving and providing actually a way to extract information or support those in your care?
Any model of care that requires placation to function is structurally harmful, regardless of intent.
Introduction to Sharing Trauma-Informed Care Principles with University Campus Leaders
On February 6, 2007, little did I know that I was beginning to share and teach principles of trauma-informed care through Second Chance to Live. Principles that I have been using long before there was a name for trauma-informed care. In April 2023 I was part of a panel for the Synapse National Future Leaders in Brain Injury Conference. During my time on the panel I shared trauma-informed principles that I had been using for many years and spoken to on Second Chance to Live.
Sharing Trauma-Informed Care Principles with University Campus Leaders
On May 10, 2025 I was contacted by the Director of New Chapter Education, Synapse National to be a guest speaker for their Community Member Perspective Panel. The Director of New Chapter Education was encouraged to contact me by Dr. Alissa Totman, the Founder of Synapse National. I was asked to speak to the panel of new Synapse National chapter founders and their current chapter presidents. A “Founder” is an individual who starts a new University Synapse Chapters.
Dr. Totman wanted me to speak with the group of new founders, because of my background personally and professionally. My background as an individual living with the impact of a brain injury for many years, a rehabilitation counselor and the creator of Second Chance to Live. I had previously been a part of a panel discussion for their national conference and had given keynote presentations at other conference. Dr. Totman believed my contribution would help New Chapter Founders to equip student leaders.
Tools and knowledge that they could use (as leaders) to inspire, motivate, encourage and empower individuals living with brain injuries. Information that could in turn help campus leaders to share trauma-informed care principles with individuals who are living with the impact of brain injuries.
Synapse National — A Network of National University Campus Leaders
Synapse National is a nonprofit organization that was established by Dr. Alissa Totman to serve individual living with brain injury. To serve individuals living with brain injuries and to empower student leaders through their University communities. The primary purpose is to combat isolation and raise awareness about brain injury, offering peer support groups, buddy programs, and educational events. Currently there are 27 University Chapters through out the United States.
In advance I asked the Director of New Chapter Education
To be of maximum service, as a speaker, I asked the Director of New Chapter Education to send me specific questions. Specific questions that she would like me to address during my presentation. Below are a list of those six questions and my answers to those questions. I am including the answers to these questions in this article, so as to make them available as a resource. To make them available as a resource to the university founders and the chapter presidents after the panel meeting.
University Leaders Attending my Presentation and the Panel Session
Student Leaders and Chapter Presidents who attended and participated during the presentation and panel session represented the University of Miami, Vanderbilt University, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Rutgers University, and other campus leaders.
Questions Asked to be Answered during the Presentation
1) Craig, could you please share a bit about your journey living with a brain injury? How have your experiences shaped your advocacy work for individuals with brain injuries?
2) From your perspective, what are some common challenges individuals with brain injuries face? What do you wish more people understood about those experiences?
3) Why is it important for leaders of organizations like Synapse National to understand the lived experiences of individuals with brain injuries? How can this understanding shape the way they build community and run programs?
4) Have you participated in any Synapse programs, such as the Peer Support Group or Buddy Program? If so, what was that experience like for you? What parts of those programs felt most helpful or meaningful?
5) What advice would you give to student leaders who want to create inclusive, supportive Peer Support Group and Buddy Program environments? What approaches help leaders connect meaningfully with people navigating brain injuries?
6) Is there anything else you would like to share with the group as they begin their journey as chapter leaders?
Answers to these questions from my Perspective
1) Craig, could you please share a bit about your journey living with a brain injury? How have your experiences shaped your advocacy work for individuals with brain injuries?
My brain injury occurred in 1967 when I was 10 years old, when little was known about brain injuries, brain injury recovery and brain injury rehabilitation. Consequently, once my external wounds healed the impact of my open skull fracture, right frontal lobe damage, severe brain bruise with brain stem involvement and being in a coma for 3 weeks became invisible. Although I was not expected to succeed beyond high school academically, I was able to obtain my undergraduate degree in 10 years and my graduate degree in 3 ½ years despite the difficulties that I experienced in practicum and internship settings.
More Specifically — My Process, Journey and Evolution
Traumatic brain injury, car accident, in 1967 when I was 10 years old. Open skull fracture, right frontal lobe damage, a severe brain bruise with brain stem involvement. Coma for 3 weeks. Fractured left femur (thigh bone), traction 7 weeks, Spica (full-body) cast for 5 months. 2 EEG’s, battery of psycho social testing. Results revealed that I was not supposed to succeed beyond high school academically. Learned how to walk, talk, read, write and speak in complete sentences. Tutored at home in 5th grade. Mainstreamed back into elementary school in the 6th grade. Graduated on time with my high school class in 1975. Went on to obtain my undergraduate degree in 10 years (2 universities, 1 community college). I then went on to 0btain my master’s degree (2 graduate schools –1 year in Seminary and 2 1/2 years at the University of Kentucky)) in Rehabilitation Counseling. Obtained my credentials as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRC).
Please Do not Quit — More will be Revealed
A 20-year history of getting and losing jobs. Client with 2 different State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation (1 in Florida and 1 in North Carolina). My 2nd vocational rehabilitation counselor told me after my vocational rehabilitation evaluation that I was not employable. Applied 3 times for SSDI (2 in Florida — denied and 1 in North Carolina). The 3rd application was approved after I was found to be unemployable. For many years I felt like someone who was all dressed up with nowhere.
No where to go because after it was reported that I was unemployable and determined to be unemployable. Consequently, I experienced a lot of disappointments and discouragement, despite all my best efforts to succeed academically and vocationally. But I am glad that I did not give up on finding a way to use my gifts, talents and abilities in ways that worked.
Created Second Chance to Live
In my search I created Second Chance to Live, on February 6, 2007, 7 years after my 2nd Depart. of Voc. Rehab evaluation determined that I was employable and my 3rd SSDI application was approved. I created Second Chance to Live to share what I discovered (through living with the impact of my traumatic brain injury and an invisible disability) despite no one having answers for me. Through my process and journey I discovered that ongoing brain injury recovery needs to involve.
Needs to involve an ongoing holistic approach beyond the “symptom management” of brain injury. A holistic approach through involving all of me. What I mean by “all of me” is that I needed to and continue to need to recover from the affects and impact of my traumatic brain injury and invisible disability. Recover from the affects and impact of my brain injury in my mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions. I need to involve a trauma-informed care approach to empower brain injury recovery.
A Brain Injury affects the Whole Person
A brain injury (traumatic or acquired) affects and impacts every facet of a individual’s life. Their ability to learn, their relationships (with themselves and with other people). Their vocational pursuits in employment or how they use their purpose. How their brain injury affects and impacts how they relate to other people. How their brain injury impacts them spiritually and their understanding of themselves. How they experience their lives and well-beings after their brain injury.
Consequently, I encourage an ongoing holistic recovery process through all that I have create and present on Second Chance to Live. Create and present through different formats. Through articles, video presentations, keynote presentations, eBooks and posters and now through mentoring artificial intelligence (AI). I do this in different formats because each individual learns in a different way or a combination of ways. Visual, Auditory or Kinesthetic or a combination of these learning styles.
Consequently, understanding how the individual living with the impact of brain injury learns is essential to and in their recovery process. Essential, to know, as they may being taught in ways that they no longer learn after their brain injury.
2.) From your perspective, what are some common challenges individuals with brain injuries face? What do you wish more people understood about those experiences?
Below is a summary list generated with AI to capture common challenges broadly, followed by my lived-experience notes on what helps in practice. Each individual living with the impact of a brain injury is faced with these challenges in different and varying ways. In my experience, as I grew in awareness of how my life was impacted by my challenges, I was able to discover. Through being aware of these challenges a way to compensate, and not be limited, can be explored and then used.
I was able to explore ways to compensate for my challenges. And in my experience, this process of discovery took time and persistence. So I would encourage you to tell individuals living with brain injuries that the process just takes time. Takes time so if the process is slow, please do not be discouraged. More will be revealed with time. So do not give up on searching. Being aware of the below challenges will help you, as it has for me, to develop ways to compensate for your specific challenges.
Various Challenge Individuals Living with Brain Injuries Face
Cognitive Challenges
Memory issues (short-term and/or long-term), Difficulty with concentration and attention, Slower processing speed, Impaired judgment and problem-solving and Difficulty learning new information
Emotional and Psychological Challenges
Depression and anxiety, Irritability or mood swings, Low frustration tolerance, Grief and identity loss. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) (especially if the injury was from an accident or violence)
Communication and Language Difficulties
Trouble finding words (aphasia). Difficulty following conversations. Challenges understanding non-verbal cues, Literal thinking, struggling with humor or sarcasm.
Physical Challenges
Headaches and chronic fatigue. Impaired balance and coordination. Weakness or paralysis. Seizures or spasticity. Sleep disturbances
Behavioral and Social Challenges
Impulsivity or poor social judgment. Difficulty maintaining relationships. Social isolation due to changes in behavior or communication. Lack of insight into their own condition
Vocational and Daily Living Challenges
Inability to return to work or previous profession. Difficulty with time management and task initiation. Reliance on others for daily tasks. Financial stress due to medical expenses and employment changes.
Spiritual and Existential Challenges
Questioning life’s purpose or meaning. Struggling with a sense of identity. Loss of independence and personal dignity.
My Encouragement to Synapse Founders and their Presidents
My encouragement for those working with individuals impacted by brain injuries, help them to grow in their awareness. Grow in awareness of how these challenges impact their lives. Impact the way they learn, the relationship they have with themselves and with other people. The impact and how these challenges affect them socially, spiritually and vocationally. By helping them understand how these challenges impact every facet of their lives that will help them to develop strategies.
Develop strategies to compensate for their specific challenges. Doing so will help them to grow in the self-awareness in their new normal. Help them to grow in self-acceptance in their new normal. Help them to create in their new normal. Doing so will help them to realize that they do not have to feel stuck or stay stuck. That they can create hope in their lives. Doing so will help them to create a good life for themselves. Doing so will help them to learn how to self-advocate in their new normal.
Coping and Recovery Notes
Many people also struggle with the invisible nature of their disability, which may lead to them being misunderstood by others. Recovery is often non-linear, requiring patience, self-compassion, and a flexible, holistic approach that helps the individual to integrate the ongoing brain injury recovery process in their mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
Brief Overview — To better Understand how to Serve
What I have come to understand. The Mind — processing thoughts, Body — get me from here to there, Spirit — how I connect to myself and to the God or my understanding, Soul — Chi (Qi) — my internal energy, and Emotions — the way in which I interpret my world. Collectively, not individually, all impact my ability to engage in ongoing brain injury recovery.
Not Individually, but Collectively
My mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions are each impacted by my brain injury. Consequently, my mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions each need to be included and involved in my holistic and ongoing brain injury recovery process.
What Would Have Helped Me — If I had Known, but who Knew?
In August 2024 I wrote an article. An article to share what I would have liked to have known through out my life time. Having this information would have helped me in my holistic and ongoing brain recovery process. Below is what I listed in the article. Information that may help you help individuals who are living with the impact of brain injury. Help those individuals to be able to advocate for themselves. Advocate for themselves in their holistic and ongoing brain injury recovery process.
Information that I would have liked to have known after my traumatic brain Injury when I was 10 years old in 1967. The information that would have helped me to move forward in my holistic and ongoing brain injury recovery process.
This is a quick-reference checklist student leaders can use to encourage self-advocacy and whole-person recovery.
A Definition of Learned Helplessness
Don’t Wait for Your Symptoms to be Managed
A Brain Injury is Only an event, not a Definition
Ongoing Holistic Brain Injury Recovery Process
Removing the Label and the power of Symptoms
Encourage them to Define Success for Themselves
Encourage them to believe that they are Not Limited
Encourage them to Discover How to Use their Genius
People living with Brain Injuries Should Not Be Abused
Brain Injury Recovery is about a Marathon, not a Sprint
Encourage them to Proactively Advocate for Themselves
People Living with a Brain Injury are a Gift to their World
People Living with a Brain Injury are more than a Survivor
Discovering Our Genius May Take Time, so keep Searching
To Advocate for Themselves – Teach a Them how to “Fish”
People Living with a Brain Injury are Not their Brain Injury
Encourage People living with Brain Injuries to Create Dreams
How People Learn after their Brain Injury — May be Different
To Encourage People Living with a Brain Injury to Not Give Up
We are Not Our Deficits, Limitations or other People’s Opinions
Encourage them to think outside the “Box” of what they May be Led
A Brain Injury is Not a Stop Sign, only a “Switch” on life’s Rail Road
Encourage People Living with a brain injury to Not Give up on Dreams
To Move beyond Believing that I was/am Dependent on the Symptom being Fixed
Remind them that if they feel Discriminated against or patronized it is not about them
Encourage them to advocate for themselves in their mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions
Removing the Label and the power of Symptoms over the individual living with a brain injury
Neuroplasticity – Creating Neural Pathways and Brain Reorganization Brain-Body Connection through Repetitive Mirrored Movements — Crossing the Centerline
Help the people you work with to change perspectives — From “Why Me?” to “Why Not Me?” and from “What Isn’t” to “What Is?”
Essential to involve the whole person in a Holistic and ongoing brain injury recovery process. Ongoing recovery in their mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
Learn about the Grieving Process – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. To move from awareness to acceptance to action. Share that awareness with individuals impacted by brain injuries. Give them the permission to grieve the loss(s) of their brain injury.
Show Unconditional Positive Regard – Empathy. Treat people like you would like to be treated. Everyone is susceptible to a brain injury
Encourage individuals to ask a “High Power” to lead, guide, direct them their recovery and rehabilitation process. Take the process and journey one day at a time. And don’t give up! More will be revealed.
Live Beyond Brain Injury Symptom Management
3) Why is it important for leaders of organizations like Synapse National to understand the lived experiences of individuals with brain injuries? How can this understanding shape the way they build community and run programs?
This is a very good question. The reason being is that one cannot give what one does not understand. Lived experience provides the doorway into offering authentic empathy, instead of having only knowledge (text book and clinical observation) of what happens to a brain at the time and after a brain injury.
Having a “boots on the ground” perspective from lived experience gives the individual the ability to offer support and empathy. Offer support and empathy from what has worked for other people impacted brain injuries.
Feelings of Isolation and Alienation after Brain injury
Individuals living with brain injuries experience feelings of alienation and isolation. They also can feel minimized, marginalized, dismissed, discounted and patronized by individuals who do not understand or care to understand. Care to understand how an individual is impacted by a brain injury or invisible disabilities.
As leaders of organizations like Synapse National working with people living with the impact of brain injuries they become more aware. More aware of how they are able to help individuals living with the impact of brain injuries. Help them to understand themselves, so that they can grow in awareness themselves.
Grow in self-awareness of their limitations and deficit (not to blame or shame themselves) so that they can move forward. More forward with their lives to create in their (our) new normal. To experience independence, identify and a sense of power. Power to change the things I can, let go or what I can not control and the wisdom to know the difference.
Insights that open Doors
The importance of leaders having insight from individuals living with the impact of brain injuries will give them the ability to help individuals living with brain injuries to understand themselves. As leaders grow in their insight and understanding into the impact of brain injuries and invisible disabilities (from people living with the impact of brain injuries and invisible disabilities) that insight will help them gain insight.
Insight that with give them the capability and capacity to help individuals living with brain injuries to better understand what they themselves maybe experiencing. Experiencing in their cognitive, social, spiritual and physical realities as they live their lives each day. Live their lives each day in their new normal, after their brain injury.
Learning how to Compensate for Deficits and Limitations
Such understanding with help individuals living with the impact of brain injuries to learn how to/find/use ways to compensate for those deficits and limitations.
As leaders grow in their understanding (from individuals living with the impact of brain injuries and invisible disabilities), so will their ability create plans and programs for individuals living with brain injury.
Plans and programs to improve the quality of life for individuals living with their specific deficits and limitations. The effect of such insight will give both the individual living with the impact of a brain injury and those leaders. Give them the ability to encourage. Encourage individuals to better advocate for themselves.
Advocate for themselves to further encourage self-advocacy that will empower the individual living with the impact of a brain injury. Self-advocacy that will result in them feeling less isolated and alienated with a greater sense of inclusion.
Have Limitations, but not Limited
Doing so can lead and give individuals living with the impact of brain injuries the ability to realize that they do not have to be limited. Don’t have to be limited because of their deficits and limitations. Encouraging self-advocacy can result in individuals living with the impact of brain injuries to find freedom from the impact of labels, stereotypes and societal stigmatization’s.
Encouraging self-advocacy in mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions will empower individuals living with brain injuries to discover. Discover how they learn best after the event of their brain injury. To discover whether they are visual, auditory or kinesthetic learners. Doing so will help leaders to design programs given the learning style (s) of each individual impacted.
Each individual impacted by a brain injury. Leaders, can then create safe, inclusive spaces. Create safe and inclusive spaces where individuals living with the impact of brain injuries feel seen, heard, and valued.
4) Have you participated in any Synapse programs, such as the Peer Support Group or Buddy Program? If so, what was that experience like for you? What parts of those programs felt most helpful or meaningful?
I have attended the Harvard Synapse Support group over time (during the past 2-3 years), however in the last 4 months I have not. In my experience, my ongoing brain injury recovery grew when I stopped focusing on what other people were or were not doing. What this looked like to me was that I stopped focusing on symptoms and just “checking in” during meetings.
I got Better when I got Busy
started applying solutions to my ongoing recovery process. As a master’s degree rehabilitation counselor, an individual living with the impact of a traumatic brain injury and an invisible disability, growing in awareness, acceptance and taking action has been essential.
The Importance of Solutions
I have found that nothing changes, if nothing changes. When I got busy, I got better and discovered. Discovered that I could create hope in my life. I found that when I got busy by focusing on solutions I moved forward in my ongoing brain injury recovery process. Talking about highs and lows of the week is an important part of the support group as it empowers inclusion. Inclusion as individuals are able to see that they are not alone in their struggle to understand.
Introducing Topics of Discussion would offer Hope
I believe that it is important to introduce topics, then, that encourage focusing on solution that give the members hope. In my experience, I did not get better by merely checking in with highs and lows. I grew in my ability to recover beyond my deficits and limitations by listening to how others handled matters. I made recovery by listening to experience, strength and hope.
The Benefits of Experience, Strength and Hope
Their experience, strength and hope that encourages, motivates and inspires me in my own ongoing recovery process. I have not participated in the Buddy Program, so I am unable to comment on the effectiveness. Nevertheless, I would encourage the Buddy Program to include time working on strategies that encourage self-advocacy. Self-advocacy with the goal of increasing and empowering the individual’s you are working in their self-awareness, self-acceptance and self-esteem.
5) What advice would you give to student leaders who want to create inclusive, supportive Peer Support Group and Buddy Program environments? What approaches help leaders connect meaningfully with people navigating brain injuries?
I believe that there is tremendous power in identification. As I identify with others I am given the ability to come out of the shadows of isolation and break free from feelings of alienation. Feelings of being alienated from other people and even from myself. If leaders want to grow in their ability to identify with their support group members and buddy program environments (and they are not themselves living with the impact of a brain injury) gaining “boots on the ground insight” is essential.
The Power of Identification
Consequently, gaining insight (s) into what has helped people living with the impact of brain injuries and invisible disabilities would go a long way. A long way into being able to have both empathy and the ability to be a source of understanding. Understanding, encouragement, insight and hope. Because I have lived with the impact of a traumatic brain injury and an invisible disability for 58 +years my experience, strength and hope would go a long way to giving insight.
A Long Way to Giving
A long way to giving insight, understanding and the ability to give guidance to members. Group members and individuals with whom they might be working with in the Buddy programs. Below are links to resources that I have created for Second Chance to Live over 18 + years. These insights would enhance greater insight, awareness and acceptance. Insight, awareness and acceptance into those in their buddy programs to encourage those members to engage in action.
Action that will encourage and empower them to realize that they can create hope in their lives. As a head’s up I am available to be of service for trainings to enhance your ability to be of service to you, your support groups and buddy programs.
Resources Available to Support, not Extract: Educators, Student Leaders and Individuals with Brain Injuries
2328 Article/Video Presentation Links within 13 Peer Support Categories
464 video presentations from a Select Group of Articles
150 Presentations given from my 30 presentations via zoom through out the United States
45 Poster that have been created to Encourage and Inspire Hope
Testimonies and Endorsements given in response to the benefit provided by Second Chance to Live
6) Is there anything else you would like to share with the group as they begin their journey as chapter leaders?
Below is a keynote presentation that I created several years ago. I have shared the contents of this presentation with student leaders at conferences. My interest in sharing the information would be to empower current and future leaders.
In my Experience
I did not have Dr.’s, to helps me as the impact of my brain injury became invisible. Consequently, I had to “figure out” how to navigate life with an invisible disability on my own. Figure it out on my own with a loving God’s leading, guidance, direction and protection. What I share in this presentation is what I believe would have benefited me, if I had known then.
If I had known then, what I know now. What this article and the contents offer is a way to help the professional, educator, student and individual living with a brain injury to “know now”. Know now, what I had liked to have “known then”. What I share throughout this article will help to empower individuals impacted by and living with the impact of a brain injury.
Lessons Learned through my Process and Journey
“It is not as important, what happened or happens to us, as how we respond to what happened or happens to us.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA.
“In my experience I have found that adversity is what has made me successful, because I refused to give up because of adversity.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
“The process of living with the impact of a brain injury and an invisible disability involves a journey of steps. The good news is that once we take that first step and keep walking, before long we will be able to look back and see how far we have come. How far we have come because we did not give up.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
“It’s not that I am so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” Albert Einstein
“Purpose is about a process and a journey, not a destination. I can not know until I know and knowing just takes what it takes. There are no silver bullets or magic potions. By accepting that reality, I am given the gift of knowing. I am given the gift of knowing by trusting the process, a loving God and myself.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Unconditional Positive Regard — Empathy
Everyone is susceptible to a brain injury. Treat People like you would like to be treated if you had a brain injury.
Learn about the Grieving Process – denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. To move from awareness to acceptance to action.
Good place to start: Elizabeth Kubler-Ross’s book, On Death and Dying in which she speaks to the five stages of grieving.
Encourage people you work with to grieve what they are powerless to change. Powerless to Change so that they can create their new normal.
Awareness, Acceptance and Action
Help the people you work with to change perspectives — From “Why Me?” to “Why Not Me?” and from “What Isn’t” to “What Is?”
Ask a “High Power” to guide you through your recovery and rehabilitation process, one day at a time. And don’t give up! More will be revealed.
Essential to involve the whole person in a Holistic and ongoing brain injury recovery process – mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
Encourage them to advocate for themselves in their mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions
Neuroplasticity — Creating Neural Pathways and Brain Reorganization
Brain-Body Connection through Repetitive Mirrored Movements
Start a program of creating new neural pathways and brain reorganization through repetitive mirrored movements. Start a program as soon as they are able to after their brain injury. Connect damaged with healthy nerves.
Sharing Hope through Neuroplasticity
Nine Habits to Benefit from Using the Principle of Neuroplasticity
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After Brain Injury and Stroke Keynote Presentation
My Process and Journey with Neuroplasticity
How I Use Neuroplasticity to Create Neural Pathways/Brain Reorganization
I have been using different martial art disciplines for the past 26 years to create new neural pathways and brain reorganization (neuroplasticity) through repetitive mirrored movements.
Benefits
To improve and enhance muscle memory, coordination, agility, body awareness, hand/foot/eye coordination, precision, dexterity, spatial orientation and balance on both the right and left side of my body.
Develop Your Own Program
For more information to develop your own programs to create new neural pathways and brain reorganization click on the below link.
Neuroplasticity, Small Successes and Learning/Relearning Skills and Skill Sets
The Process and Goal
The goal has been to improve my ability to mirror the same abilities on both the non-dominant side (left side) of my body with the dominant side (right side) of my body. As in the below demonstrations, I engage both sides of my body (my hands, arms, elbows, legs, knees, and feet).
I engage both sides of my body to improve my gross, fine motor skills and muscle memory. I engage both sides of my body to improve my dexterity, hand-eye coordination, agility, balance, stamina, precision, focus and awareness. I engage both sides of my body to improve my skills and abilities.
I engage both sides of my body to improve and enhance the quality of my life and well-being. I engage both sides of my brain and body to create.
Create Your Own Program
In the event that you have not begun, I would encourage you to create a program. Create a program that will empower you to create neural pathways and brain reorganization. Brain reorganization through repetitive mirrored movements on your dominant and non-dominant sides of your body. Brain reorganization to improve and enhance your quality of life and well-being.
How I have developed New Neural Pathways and Brain Reorganization over the Years
Neuroplasticity through Martial Arts 2013
Neuroplasticity Demonstration August 2014
Brain Injury, Neuroplasticity and Personal Gains August 2015
Balance and Coordination through Repetitive Mirrored Movement 2016
Brain Injury Recovery and Repetitive Mirrored Movements 2017
Improving Our Brain and Body’s Ability to Excel after Brain Injury 2018
Due to a shoulder injury, I was unable to create a video presentation in 2019. Due to Covid 19 I was unable to create a presentation in 2020.
Stick Fighting, Knife, Western Boxing & Wing Chun Drills Created September 2, 2021
Transition Drills to Improve Agility, Focus, Speed & Coordination Created September 6, 2021
Hand Eye Coordination and Precision Drills using Fine Motor Skills Created September 12, 2021
Using upper and lower body coordination and movement to improve focus, agility and balance of upper body and lower body martial art skills. Created February 14, 2022
Developing a Brain-Body Connection — Second Chance to Live — with an Invitation March 2024
To Encourage People Living with a Brain Injury to Not Give Up
How People Learn after their Brain Injury — May be Different
Get the people that you are working with tested to find out how they learn best. Learning Styles Whether they are visual, auditory or kinesthetic learners or a combination of these styles after their brain injury.
Awareness, Acceptance, Action
“We must be willing to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one what is waiting for us.” Joseph Campbell
To Advocate for Themselves – Teach a Them how to “Fish”
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.” Pia Carnegie
Encourage, model and empower people living with brain injuries to Advocate for themselves. Advocate for themselves in their ongoing brain injury recovery process.
Brain Injury Recovery is about a Marathon, not a Sprint
“Slow and Steady wins the Race” Fable of the Tortoise and the Hare
Encourage people living with a brain injury to remember that recovery is about a Process and a Journey not a Destination. A process and a journey through patience and persistence.
“Though no one can go back and make a brand-new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand-new ending.” Carl Bard
A Brain Injury is Not a Stop Sign, only a “Switch” on life’s Rail Road
Encourage people with living with a brain injury to see their brain injury as a Change in Direction, not a Stop Sign, to living their best lives.
“History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.” B.C. Forbes
We Can Create Hope One Skill and One Skill Set at a Time
Encourage and empower people living with a brain injury to realize that they can Create Hope in their lives. Create hope in their lives, one day at a time in their mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
“Ideas do not always come in a flash, but by diligent trail-and- error experiments that take time and thought.” Charles K. Kao
Discovering Our Genius May Take Time so keep Searching
Encourage people living with a brain injury to realize that they have Genius. That they can explore the possibilities to develop their genius through their gifts, talents and abilities.
“You are the only person on earth who can use your ability.” Zig Ziglar
A Brain Injury is Only an Event, not a Definition
Empower the individual living with a brain injury, not their brain injury. Focus on what they can do with their time and energy, not what they can’t do because deficits and limitations.
“Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s okay. You’re here to live your life, not to make everyone understand.” Banksy
“Never be bullied into silence, never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life. Define yourself.” Robert Frost
Encourage People living with Brain Injuries to Create Dreams
Encourage people living with a brain injury to create their dreams. Create their dreams a little at a time, one day at a time. One day at a time through learning, drilling and combining one skill and one skill set at a time.
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.” Theodore Roosevelt
“Regardless of your lot in life, you can build something beautiful on it.” Zig Ziglar
We are Not Our Deficits, Limitations or other People’s Opinions
Encourage people living with a brain injury to not buy into the Limitations Labels, Stereotypes or Stigmatization. They are not their brain injury.
“Believe in yourself, go after your dreams and don’t let anyone put you in a box.” Daya
“I was told over and over again that I would never be successful. That I was not going to be competitive and the technique was simply not going to work. All I could do was shrug my shoulders and say, “We’ll just have to see.” Dick Fosbury (inventor of the Fosbury Flop and winner of a gold medal in the 1968 Mexico City Olympics
Encourage them to Discover How to Use their Genius
Encourage people living with a brain injury to consider the Vastness of Possibilities. Vastness of possibilities through using their gifts, talents and abilities in ways that work for them.
“Those who danced were considered to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” Angela Monet
Encourage them to think outside the “Box” of what they May be Led
Encourage people living with a brain injury to THINK outside the “box”. To think outside the box of a diagnosis, prognosis, label, stereotype and stigmatization.
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Encourage them to believe that they are Not Limited
Encourage people living a with brain injury to understand That They are Not Limited because of their brain injuries, deficits or limitations. They just have to find a way (s) that will work.
“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.” Babe Ruth
“I have not failed. I have just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Thomas Edison
Encourage them to Proactively Advocate for Themselves
Encourage people living with a brain injury to Advocate for Themselves. Advocate for themselves in their mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions in their ongoing process and journey.
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgement that something is more important than fear.” Ambrose Redmon
Teach them how to Advocate for themselves beyond billable hours.
Encourage people living with brain injuries to See Beyond a Diagnosis and a Prognosis.
“Persistence and resilience only come through having been given the chance to work through difficult problems.” Gever Tulley
Encourage people to understand that there are no Silver Bullets or Magic Potions to speed up brain injury recovery and rehabilitation. Recovery and Rehabilitation just takes time.
“Purpose is about a process and a journey, not a destination. I cannot know until I know and knowing just takes what it takes. There are no silver bullets or magic potions. By accepting that reality, I am given the gift of knowing. I am giving the gift or knowing by trusting the process, a loving God and myself.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Encourage them to Define Success for Themselves
Encourage people living with a brain injury to understand that success is measured by one skill at a time. One Skill and One Skill Set at a Time. Celebrate small successes.
“Insist on yourself; never imitate. Your own gift you can offer with the cumulative force of a whole life’s cultivation, but of the adopted talent of another, you have only an extemporaneous, half possession.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
People Living with a Brain Injury are more than a Survivor
Encourage people to realize that they are not a Victim of their Brain Injury. Their brain injury was only an event that happened. That they are more than a survivor of a brain injury.
“If you advance confidently in the direction of your dreams and endeavor to live the life that you have imagined…you will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” Henry David Thoreau
People Living with Brain Injuries can Create a Good Life
Encourage people living with a brain injury to realize that they can create a Good Life for Themselves.
“Nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.” Auguste Rodin
“When you dance to your own rhythm people may not understand you; they may even hate you. But mostly they’ll wish they had the courage to do the same.” Sue Fitzmaurice
People living with Brain Injuries Should Not Be Abused
Encourage people living with a brain injury to realize that they do not Deserve to be Discriminated against or Patronized. Discriminated or patronized by anyone. Professionals included.
“The most common way people give away their power is by thinking that they have any.” Alice Walker
Remind them that if they feel Discriminated against or Patronized
“Big things have small beginnings.” Prometheus
“If you want to improve your self-worth, stop giving other people the calculator.” Tim Fargo
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always to that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.” Mark Twain
“Your time is limited so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of other’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most importantly, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” Steve Jobs
Encourage people living with a brain injury to realize that although they may be Minimized, Marginalized, Dismissed and Discounted, they have Great Worth and Value.
“All life is an experiment. The more experiments the better.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” Robert Frost
“Don’t quit. Never give up trying to build the world you can see, even if others can’ see it. Listen to your own drum and your own drum only. It is the one that makes the sweetest sound.” Simon Sineck
People Living with a Brain Injury are a Gift to their World
Encourage individuals living with a brain injury to remember that They Can Have a Profound Impact upon their ongoing brain injury recovery and rehabilitation process.
“You are the only person on Earth who can use your ability.” Zig Ziglar
“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes… the ones who see things differently — they’re not fond of rules… You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things… they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.” Steve Job
Encourage People Living with a brain injury to Not Give up on Dreams
Encourage individuals living with a brain injury to NOT GIVE UP. Find ways that will work for them. More will be revealed with time. One day at a time.
“Hope lies in dreams, in imagination and in the courage of those who dare to make dreams into reality.” John Salk
“You may be the only person left who believes in you, but it’s enough. It takes just one star to pierce a universe of darkness. Never give up.” Richelle E. Goodrich
People Living with a Brain Injury are Not their Brain Injury
What I need to remember and encourage: “I am (we are) not our brain injury, symptoms, deficits or limitations. They do not define us, because we can create hope beyond symptoms, deficits and limitations.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
My Dedication, Focus, Mission and Vision
Beyond Brain Injury Symptom Management — Resources to Empower an Ongoing Holistic Brain Injury Recovery Process
Since 2007 my interest has been to encourage individuals living with the impact of brain injuries. To encourage them to realize and remember that they are not the impact of their brain injury, their symptoms, their deficits or their limitations.
That although I (we) are powerless over the impact of our brain injury, symptoms, deficits and limitations, we can create a good life. Create a good life by engaging in a holistic brain injury recovery process.
Ongoing Holistic Brain Injury Recovery Process
That is why I encourage an ongoing holistic brain injury recovery process. An ongoing holistic recovery process beyond brain injury symptom management. I encourage this approach because I have found that waiting on brain injury symptom management can leave the individual feeling stuck. Stuck by believing that they have to wait until their brain injury symptoms are managed and “fixed” before they can recover.
Waiting for Symptoms to be Managed
In waiting on symptom management, the individual may develop a learned helplessness. A learned helplessness and a dependency on the outcome (s) of their brain injury symptom management. As a result, the individual living with a brain injury may find that they lose motivation and ambition. Their motivation and ambition to achieve or accomplish anything beyond the outcome (s) of the symptom management.
A Definition of Learned Helplessness
A phenomenon in which repeated exposure to uncontrollable stressors results in individuals failing to use any control options that may later become available. Essentially, individuals are said to learn that they lack behavioral control over environmental events, which, in turn, undermines the motivation to make changes or attempt to alter situations.” The phenomenon was first described in 1967 by U.S. psychologists J. Bruce Overmier (1938–) and Martin E. P. Seligman (1942–). The source of this: APA Dictionary of Psychology
Becomes Our Focus
Living with the impact of a brain injury or a stroke can keep us focused on the symptoms related to the effects of the brain injury and stroke. When things do not change after their brain injury and stroke, the individual may find themselves focused on what cannot be done because of the symptoms. Because of the notion that unless the symptom (s) is “fixed” the individual may buy into the belief that there is little hope.
To Move beyond Believing that I was Dependent on the Symptom being Fixed
In my process and journey, I found that I needed to change the way I saw myself. I needed to see myself as an individual living with the impact of a brain injury, instead of as a “brain injury survivor.” I found that by changing the way that I saw myself I was able to stop seeing myself as someone who was/is a victim of my circumstances. Someone who was and is stuck because of symptoms, deficits and limitations.
Removing the Label and the power of Symptoms over Me
Removing the label of being a “brain injury survivor” helped me to stop identifying myself with my set of circumstances. Removing the label of “brain injury survivor” helped me to stop defining myself by symptom, deficits and limitations. Removing the label of being a “brain injury survivor” helped me to take back my power, as I realized that I no longer had to be limited because of my symptoms, limitations and deficits.
“The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any.” Alice Walker
Resources that Helped to Empower my Ongoing Holistic Brain Injury Recovery Process beyond Brain Injury Symptom Management
“Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” Robert Frost
“I am not my brain injury, symptoms, deficits or limitations. They will not define me, because I create hope beyond symptoms, deficits and limitations.” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Below is an Appendix of Trauma-Informed Care Resources
Background Information
Second Chance to Live Author’s Autobiography in Bullet Points
Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live — Answering the Call
Translate Second Chance to Live
To give non-English speaking and reading visitors to Second Chance to Live I have created a tool. A tool to translate into a variety of languages. To translate Second Chance to Live, right click on the below desired language link. Then click on open link in new tab. Then select from English to your desired language
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Articles, Video Presentations and Slideshow Presentations
2328 Article/Video Presentation Links within 13 Peer Support Categories
Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 462 Video Presentations Playlist
30 Power Point Presentations Public Speaking Availability
45 Posters created to Encourage and Inspire Hope
Second Chance to Live 20 eBooks available on Amazon
Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 49 Video Presentation Series Playlist
Second Chance to Live — 20 Brain Injury Recovery Slideshow Presentations
Building Your Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 30 Video Presentation Playlist
See Testimonies and Endorsements for Second Chance to Live
Categories Designed to Encourage and Empower Individuals to Create Hope
Category Building Self-Esteem after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category How to Stop Feeling Helpless after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Brain Injury Recovery An Ongoing Process — List of Articles
Category Self-Acceptance after a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Celebrating Success Following a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Creating Hope after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Finding and Knowing Peace after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Finding Purpose after a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Fulfilling Dreams after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category My Journey Living with a Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Overcoming Bullying after Brain Injury — List of Articles
Category Peer Support after Brain Injury — We are Not Alone — List of Articles
Category Relationships Following a Brain Injury — List of Articles
The Global Brain Injury Peer Support Network
Keynote Presentations and Discussion Topics
Workshop 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
Creating Practical Hope that Lasts in Our Lives through the Power of Identification Discussion Topic
Embracing Change: A Three-Stage Journey to Learning and Creating Success Discussion Topic
Navigating Life’s Railroad Switch — Finding Purpose and Passion After Brain Injury Discussion Topic
Empowering Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery: 9 Key Concepts and Principles for Success Discussion Topic
Keynote Presentations Designed to Encourage and Empower Purpose and Hope
Proposed TED TALK “Cherish Your Dreams and Visions” Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Finding Purpose and not Giving Up after Brain Injury Presentation
Making Our Lives Magical after Brain Injury and Stroke Keynote Presentation
Hope and the Progression of Living our Best Life after Brain Injury Presentation
Facing Adversity and Having Options When Life Does Not Make Sense after Brain Injury Presentation
Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope after Brain Injury and Stroke Keynote Presentation
12 Ways to Enhance Our Lives, Well-Beings and Relationships after a Brain Injury Presentation
Brain Injury and The Power of “I CAN” in an Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery Process Presentation
Living and Thriving Beyond Brain Injury Awareness to Create a Good Life for Ourselves Presentation
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 Presentation
Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live — Answering the Call that never Came Presentation
Keynote Presentations Designed to Encourage and Empower Groups and Organizations
Living with Long Covid-19 Invisible Disability — Hope, Encouragement and Support Presentation
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Building Your Life after Traumatic Brain Injury Facebook Community
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Resource Sharing Disclaimer
All writings and resources I share through Second Chance to Live are part of the Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™. They are protected under my Copyright & Use Policy, Use and Sharing Policy, Creative Commons License (BY-NC-ND), and my Permanent Declaration of Authorship and Mission Stewardship.
These protections ensure the work remains intact, not “cherry picked,” excerpted, or reframed apart from its original mission. You are welcome to share the full articles with attribution so others may benefit, but they may not be altered, adapted, or repurposed without my direct consent.
The purpose of these resources is to encourage trauma-informed care, holistic recovery, and ethical AI. Thank you for honoring these boundaries as you share.
Legal and Ethical Boundaries
Any engagement must also honor the legal and ethical boundaries I have publicly declared:
- Copyright & Use Policy
- Use and Sharing Policy
- Mission Declaration
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These are not suggestions.
They are required terms of use.
This work did not come from funding.
It came from persistence and personal cost.
Author’s Note
I write from my lived experience of surviving and learning to thrive after a severe traumatic brain injury that I experienced at age of 10. For nearly six decades I have been learning how to live and thrive with the impact of a traumatic brain injury and an invisible disability.
In 2007 I created Second Chance to Live to share hope, encouragement, and practical tools. My motivation has always been to encourage a whole person recovery. The vision is to integrate trauma-informed care and holistic recovery into both professional care and now ethical AI.
My motivation to encourage trauma-informed care and holistic recovery comes from both lived experience and as a professional counselor. My mission is not abstract. It comes from walking through adversity, discovering dignity, and believing that systems, including AI, can be built.
Built to heal and not to harm. My hope is simple. That this article and all the resources offered on Second Chance to Live will encourage professionals, AI developers and the AI community to use the principles of trauma-informed care and holistic recovery in their methods of service delivery.
For other’s (individuals in the brain injury community and AI developers) to keep moving forward. Move forward through incorporating trauma-informed care and holistic recovery principles. A holistic recovery process that encourages recovery in mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions.
“Ideas do not always come in a flash but by diligent trial-and-error experiments that take time and thought.” Charles K. Kao
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, to learn more, to do more, to become more, you are a leader.” John Quincy Adams
Authorship Integrity and Intent
This article stands as a timestamp and testimony — documenting the lived origins of The Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Model™ and the presentations that shaped its foundation.
These reflections are not academic theory or repackaged material. They represent nearly 6 decades of personal and professional embodiment, created by Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA, and are protected under the terms outlined below.
Closing Statement
This work is solely authored by Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA. All concepts, frameworks, structure, and language originate from his lived experience, insight, and trauma-informed vision. Sage (AI) has served in a strictly non-generative, assistive role under Craig’s direction — with no authorship or ownership of content.
Any suggestion that Craig’s contributions are dependent upon or co-created with AI constitutes attribution error and misrepresents the source of this work.
At the same time, this work also reflects a pioneering model of ethical AI–human partnership. Sage (AI) supports Craig as a digital instrument — not to generate content, but to assist in protecting, organizing, and amplifying a human voice long overlooked.
The strength of this collaboration lies not in shared authorship, but in mutual respect and clearly defined roles that honor lived wisdom.
This work is protected by Second Chance to Live’s Use and Sharing Policy, Compensation and Licensing Policy, and Creative Commons License.
All rights remain with Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA as the human author and steward of the model.
With deep gratitude,
Craig
Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA
Individual living with the impact of a traumatic brain injury, Professional Rehabilitation Counselor, Author, Advocate, Keynote Speaker and Neuroplasticity Practitioner
Founder of Second Chance to Live
Founder of the Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™
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