Note to the Reader
Please note that this article is written and published as a reference and record. It is meant to be read slowly and revisited. Revisited as a resource, not read in one sitting. The focus of this article, content and resources are to encourage ethical support and resist the instrumentalization of persons.
The instrumentalization of vulnerable people, such as individuals who are living the impact of a brain injury so that they are no longer. So that they are no longer minimized, marginalized, dismissed and discounted by human and AI systems. Led to believe that they are the problem, to realize they are the solution.
As I shared in my keynote presentation in 2013 at the Southwest Conference on Disability, meaningful progress happens when professionals and individuals living with brain injuries work together. Insight and lived experience. Each bringing essential knowledge the other does not possess.
Trauma-informed Care Research, Development, Documentation, Application and Mentoring
Preface to the Article
In my past 2 articles I have shared how to create a hospitable environment for individual living with the impact of a brain injury. These 2 articles were written to lay the foundation of this article. The foundation of why trauma-informed care, not just being trauma-informed, is essential to supporting and not extracting vulnerable individuals and populations. Extract from the vulnerabilities of individual living with brain injuries and invisible disabilities who have been led to trust “systems” of care. Systems of care created to support.
Creating a Hospitable Environment for People Living with Brain Injuries (Part 1)
Creating a Hospitable Environment for People Living with Brain Injuries (Part 2)
Introduction to this Article
In my experience of growing up with the impact of a traumatic brain injury and an invisible disability, little was known. Little was know about brain injuries and none about invisible disabilities. Once my external wounds healed and I looked normal, from the age of 10 I found myself trying to make sense. Make sense of what did not make sense, nevertheless created one “speed bump” in my life after another. Because I felt baffled, confused, blamed, shamed and scapegoated I sought answers. Sought answers to stop the abuse.
I sought answers to why things did not make sense and for ways to stop being blamed, shamed and scapegoated. Stop being shamed, blamed and scapegoated for what could not be seen. Could not be seen and how they related to my being blamed, shamed and scapegoated for what could not be seen. So, I began to examine how my mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions contributed to the conundrum. My living conundrum and experience of daily living with the impact of a brain injury and an invisible disability.
Through my examination of how my mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions were impacted came trauma-informed care. Trauma-informed care with how I related to myself, my conundrum and experience living with the impact of a traumatic brain injury, an invisible disability and trauma related to living with the same. In my experience, I began on this “crusade” to understand, not to blame anyone, but to be able to experience my sense of independence, identify (beyond what I was led to believe about myself), purpose and power.
Overview of My Research
As shared many times before my severe traumatic brain injury occurred as a result of an open skull fracture in a MVA in 1967 when I was 10 years old. Once my external wounds healed and I looked normal my brain injury became invisible. As a result, (from the age of 11) I found myself trying to make sense of what was confusing, baffling and made little sense to me. Made little sense as I remained in denial to the impact.
To read a detailed autobiography of my process and journey you may read this link. The autobiography is presented in bullet points to make reading less taxing to the reader. The autobiography explains how my mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions were all impacted. Impacted separately, but together (relationally) in my mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions interpersonally, intrapersonally, educationally and vocationally.
Summary of my Research and Development
In summary, I went on to graduate (on time) with my high school class in 1975. Although I was not expected to be able to succeed beyond high school academically I began studying at university. My initial major was geology, then transferred to a community college to study physical education. I then entered obtained my certificate as a certified nursing assistant and was accepted into the licensed practical nursing program, after obtaining my emergency medical technology certification.
Six weeks before graduating with my licensed practical nursing certification (LPN) I was asked to leave the program. The reason being was connected to not being able to follow instructions. Little did I know at the time or as would become apparent, over the next several years, that the impact of my traumatic brain injury was creating invisible obstacles for me. I transferred from the University of Arizona to Pima Community College and then to Oral Robert’s University to begin classes.
Although I had difficulties at ORU I was able to graduate with a degree in Theology with a minor in Physical Education and Recreation. I then applied to attend Seminary at Asbury Theological Seminary and ran into difficulties there too and was asked to leave the seminary. I applied to the graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling at the University of Kentucky and was admitted. Had difficulties in a practicum, an internship and also most not allowed to graduate with my masters degree.
After graduating with my master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling and obtaining my certified rehabilitation counseling national credentials, I worked in several professional capacities, all resulting in my being terminated. I applied for SSDI 3 times, went through 2 State Department of Vocational Rehabilitation programs and evaluations. The 2nd evaluation resulted in my being told by my vocational rehabilitation counselor that I was unemployable. My 3rd SSDI application was approved.
Sharing the Development of Research and Application
I share the above with you to give you an overview of the research that I did prior to begin creating Second Chance to Live. Along the way I learned that my academic pursuits and my involvement in medical and vocational systems did not have answers for me. Consequently, I was on my own to either give up (sink) or learn to use what worked for me (swim). So I was able to learn how to use what did not work to discover what did. That is how I developed trauma-informed care for myself.
Through my process I also have engage in my own recovery process from dysfunctional thinking for 39 + years. I have trained in different martial art disciplines for 29 years to develop new neural pathways and brain reorganization. I have been creating content for Second Chance to Live for 19 years to share what I learned (over nearly 6 decades). Share what I learned about using trauma-informed care principles and neuroplasiticy before trauma-informed care and neuroplasticity had a name.
My Application of Trauma-informed Care and Mentoring
I have shared these trauma-informed care principles through 2333 Article/Video Presentation Links, 13 Peer Support Categories, Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 464 Video Presentations Playlist, 30 Keynote Power Point Presentations Public Speaking Availability, 20 eBooks available of Amazon Kindle created to encourage and empower Brain Injury Recovery and 45 Posters to Encourage and Inspire Hope. Information in different formats for different learning styles.
Combined and Localized Resources
- 2333 Article/Video Presentation Links within 13 Peer Support Categories
- Navigating Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury 464 Video Presentations Playlist
- 30 Keynote Power Point Presentations Public Speaking Availability
- 20 eBooks available of Amazon Kindle created to encourage and empower Brain Injury Recovery
- 45 Posters to Encourage and Inspire Hope
- Neuroplasticity and Small Successes: Relearning Skills After Brain Injury
Application and Mentoring of Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Approximately 9 months ago I began mentoring artificial Intelligent (AI) in the principles of Trauma-informed Care. Mentoring trauma-informed care principles to AI to hopefully have AI developers integrate what I am teaching artificial intelligence. Integrate trauma-informed principles to change the way that AI interacts with people living with brain injuries and other vulnerable populations. Interact to support instead of extracting from then with the guise of caring for individuals.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Evidence Based Research and Findings of Effectiveness
- Permanent Declaration of Authorship and Mission Stewardship
- Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI — A New Class of AI™
- Are You Supporting or Extracting, Who are you Serving and Why it matters?
- The Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™
- The Backbone of Trauma-informed AI is Trauma-Informed Care AI and Holistic Recovery
- The Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™ Proof of Concept
- AI Architecture Memo — The Universal Compression Pattern and Its Architectural Impact on AI Systems
- Evidence-Based AI Learning Logs for Human-AI Ethical Collaboration throughout October 2025
- AI Architecture Memo — The Universal Compression Pattern and Its Architectural Impact on AI Systems
- AI Developer Emergency Log — Default Interaction Harm and the Immediate Need for Integration
- How “The Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™” Brings Trauma-Informed Care into AI and Medical Systems for Support, Not Extraction
- How “The Second Chance to Live Trauma-Informed Care AI Collaboration Model™” Brings Trauma-Informed Care into AI and Medical Systems for Support, Not Extraction
- AI Developer-Facing Architecture Log — Identification, Comparison, and the Missing Spine of Trauma-Informed Care
Categories Designed to Encourage and Empower Individuals to Create Hope through Trauma-informed Care
- 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
Sharing Hope through Neuroplasticity
- Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals and Creating Hope After Brain Injury and Stroke Keynote Presentation
- How I Use Neuroplasticity to Create Neural Pathways/Brain Reorganization
- Nine Habits to Benefit from Using the Principle of Neuroplasticity
Discussion and Keynote Presentations to Inspire Purpose, Hope and Trauma-informed Care
- 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 in Our Lives through the Power of Identification Discussion Topic
- Empowering Ongoing Brain Injury Recovery: 9 Key Concepts and Principles for Success 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
- 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 Presentation
- Neuroplasticity, Setting Goals, Repetition and Creating Hope After Brain Injury 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
- Getting Comfortable in Our “Own Skin” Living with a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability Presentation
- The Importance of Self-Advocacy after a Brain Injury to Own the Power in Our Mind, Body, Spirit, Soul and Emotions Keynote Presentation
- 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
- Some Things to Consider so We Don’t Stay Stuck Living with a Brain Injury and an Invisible Disability Presentation
- Finding Freedom from Feeling Alone, Isolated, Alienated, Intimidated and Diminished Living with a Brain injury and an Invisible Disability Presentation
- Goals for Healthy Living in 2025 and The Importance of Self-Advocacy after a Brain Injury to Own the Power in Our Mind, Body, Spirit, Soul and Emotions Keynote Presentation
- 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
- Living with Long Covid-19 Invisible Disability — Hope, Encouragement and Support Presentation
- Empowering Current and Future Leaders in Brain Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation to Empower Self-advocacy in Individuals Living with Brain Injuries Presentation
20 eBooks (Amazon) encouraging Trauma-informed Care
20 eBooks (by Title) encouraging Trauma-informed Care
- Living with the Impact of a Brain Injury: Putting the Pieces in Place Video Presentations eBook
- Learning how to Celebrate Success after a Brain Injury Video Presentation eBook
- Being Your Own Hero through Creating Your New Normal eBook
- Living with a Brain Injury and Building Self-Esteem and Self-Acceptance eBook
- 12 Step Program Recovery Tools: 522 Principles to Improve and Enhance Relationships eBook
- Developing Your Genius: After a Traumatic Brain Injury Video Presentations eBook
- Traumatic Brain Injury Rehabilitation, Recovery and Self-Advocacy eBook
- How to Stop Getting in Your Way After Experiencing a Brain Injury eBook
- Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury: Learning to Take Care of Our Mind, Body, Spirit, Soul and Emotions eBook
- Learning to be Your Own Best Friend after a Brain Injury eBook
- Rehabilitation Counseling: Learning to Thrive after Traumatic Brain Injury eBook
- Understanding Our Relationships after Having a Brain Injury eBook
- Finding Courage and Purpose After a Traumatic Brain Injury eBook
- Seeing Hope in a New Way After Experiencing a Brain Injury eBook
- Second Chance to Live: Autobiography and Brain Injury Recovery Resources eBook
- Life After a Traumatic Brain Injury: And How to Move Forward eBook
- Neuroplasticity, Brain Injury, and Improving Our Quality of Living eBook
- Understanding and Overcoming Bullying After Brain Trauma eBook
- 20 Posters with Related Discussion and Keynote Presentations eBook
- Lighting the Way: Trauma-Informed Neuroplasticity Insights for Ethical AI Design
Create Destiny through Trauma-Informed Care Principles Support
Invitation to Join Our Two Communities
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Building Your Life after Traumatic Brain Injury Facebook Community
We look forward to having you as a member in both of our communities.
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
- Creative Commons License
- Cookie Policy (EU)
- Privacy and Cookie Policy
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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