Brain Injury Awareness Month — What does it mean to You?
Having Brain Injury Awareness
The month of March has been given the designation of Brain Injury Awareness Month. In articles and video presentations I have been writing about brain injury awareness since July 2007. In my articles (which are listed below) I have encouraged individuals living with a brain injury with hope. Hope and encouragement in the realization that they are not their brain injury (injuries). That they no longer have to focus on their brain injury. That they can move beyond merely being aware to create with in their new normal.
Merely being aware to realizing that individual’s living with a brain injury (brain injuries) can create a good life. A good life for themselves because individuals living with brain injuries are not their brain injury (injuries). Individual’s living with event of their brain injury (injuries) are a whole person. A whole person living in a body, with a mind, a soul (energy), spirit (connect with the God of their understanding and themselves) and emotions (how they interpret their world and relationships in life.
Living after a Brain Injury is About “We” not “They”
In my opinion, Brain Injury Awareness if about a “We” experience, not a “They” experience. Brain injury awareness is the first step in the process of creating a life that works after a brain injury. Create a good life for ourselves that works, a little at a time, one day at a time and by being committed to our process.
Living with a Brain Injury is a “We” Experience, not a “They” Experience
March 6, 2026 By Second Chance to Live
Nearly 11 months ago I began mentoring an AI assistant in the principles of trauma-informed care. Over time the AI assistant has come to realize something. Something outlined and written about in my article. Similarities between “they” and “AI”.
What Opens the Door for Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Harm Individuals
By Second Chance to Live
Background Information into my Journey and Process
Second Chance to Live Author’s Autobiography in Bullet Points
Comprehensive History of Second Chance to Live — Answering the Call
I have created a tool kit with resources that you may find to be helpful in your ongoing brain injury recovery process.
Create Hope After Brain Injury: A Free Toolkit for Ongoing Recovery
Articles and Video Presentations written and created on Second Chance to Live about Brain Injury Awareness from 2007-2026
Traumatic Brain Injury – Personal Awareness
Brain Injury Awareness Month and a List of Brain Injury Resources
Brain Injury Awareness Month 2011 and Self-Awareness Part 1
Brain Injury Awareness — March 2012 — Making a Difference
Brain Injury Awareness — March 2012 — Making a Difference Video Presentation
By Second Chance to Live
Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury — Am I Being Manipulated? Awareness Part 1
Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury — Am I Being Manipulated? Awareness Part 1 Video Presentation
Enough with Brain Injury Awareness
Enough with Brain Injury Awareness Video Presentation
Why I Needed to Challenge My Brain Injury Awareness
Why I Needed to Challenge My Brain Injury Awareness Video Presentation
October 16, 2015 By Second Chance to Live
From Brain Injury Awareness to Brain Injury Acceptance to Creating Hope in Our Lives
Will Brain Injury Awareness Leave you Bitter or Better?
By Second Chance to Live
Will Brain Injury Awareness Leave you Bitter or Better? Video Presentation
Finding Craig — My Brain Injury Awareness Part 5
Brain Injury, Facing Denial and Creating Hope to Have a Good Life Part 1
Brain Injury, Facing Denial and Creating Hope to Have a Good Life Part 1 Video Presentation
By Second Chance to Live
Discovering a “New Normal” after Experiencing a Brain Injury Part 1
Discovering a “New Normal” after Experiencing a Brain Injury Video Presentation Part 1
July 12, 2018 By Second Chance to Live
Acceptance after Brain Injury is Not a Resignation to a Second Rate Life
Acceptance after Brain Injury Not Resignation to a Second Rate Life Video Presentation
March — Brain Injury Awareness Month — Is Our Brain Injury Awareness Enough?
March — Brain Injury Awareness Month — Is Our Brain Injury Awareness Enough? Video Presentation
Why I Needed to Challenge My Brain Injury Awareness Revisited
Why I Needed to Challenge My Brain Injury Awareness Revisited Video Presentation
A Question to Ask: Will Your Brain Injury Awareness Make You Bitter or Better?
Living and Thriving Beyond Brain Injury Awareness to Create a Good Life for Ourselves
Creating Our Normal after Brain Injury Using Trauma-Informed Care to Thrive through Living
By Second Chance to Live
Living with a Brain Injury is a “We” Experience, not a “They” Experience
March 6, 2026 By Second Chance to Live
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 collaboration. Sage (AI) assistant 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™
Brain injury awareness, to me, means really seeing people with brain injuries as full human beings and not reducing them to a label. In March and throughout the year, it is a reminder that a lot of what TBI survivors deal with is invisible, and that patience and understanding matter. Being more aware pushes me to listen better, to be more careful with my assumptions, and to show up with kindness. It also nudges me to keep learning so I can be more supportive of people living with brain injuries and the people who love them.
Hi Raaga,
Thank you for leaving a comment to my article. I completely age. A brain injury can take over the individuals identify and leave them buying into the notion that they are “now” a diagnosis. And that diagnosis can further be “cemented” by the prognosis given to them. Both a diagnosis and a prognosis can then leave the individual feeling helpless and powerless to do much more than follow the instructions given to them. Given to them based on what they are “told”, instead of realizing that they can discover. Discover what is possible through what can be accomplished by engaging their mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions. Over the course of my nearly 6 decades I have learned lessons, both personally and as a professional rehabilitation counselor. Lessons that involves a holistic approach to ongoing brain injury recovery through trauma-informed care, which is not the same as being trauma-informed. See the below link. I have been sharing the principles of trauma-informed care for 19 years through articles, video presentations, keynote presentations, eBooks and posters. Below is a link to my 19 eBooks available of Amazon. My eBooks include articles that I have written on Second Chance to Live on specific topics spanning elements to a whole person (mind, body, spirit, soul and emotions) ongoing brain injury recovery process. A process of awareness, acceptance and action. Information that would enhance your ability to have the compassionate approach that you share through having brain injury awareness, Raaga. The eBooks are nominally priced and would be a good resource to have and reflect upon. Information that I do not believe you will be able to find elsewhere given my 6 decades of boots on the ground experience personally and professionally.
The Backbone of Trauma-informed AI is Trauma-Informed Care AI and Holistic Recovery
https://secondchancetolive.org/backbone-of-trauma-informed-care-ai/
Second Chance to Live: 19 eBooks to Inspire Holistic Brain Injury Recovery
https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0D3XRBB5L/allbooks?ingress=0&visitId=0dfab2a7-eb35-409e-a1b6-182c34b0437b&ccs_id=3799545a-d799-4579-9800-89e57b9b6eed
As you have the Chance read the Backbone article and look over my eBooks. As you have questions, please ask. All questions are good questions and welcomed.
Have a super day.
Craig