Qualifications
My name is Craig J. Phillips and I would like to be of service to you and to the individuals that you serve. Here are some of my qualifications and professional experiences.
- Master’s level Rehabilitation Counselor
- Experience working with in a state agency counseling clients around educational and employment issues as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
- Certified Rehabilitation Counselor 1990 – 2000.
- Medical training in nursing – Licensed Practical Nursing.
- Experience working with and serving clients in corporate worker’s compensation as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor.
- Author of articles that are published throughout the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia. See my Publications Page
- Have achieved extra ordinary endorsements and testimonials from clients. See Testimonial / Endorsement Page
- Have been a guest on numerous radio programs. See Site Map for my Interviews and Guest Radio Appearances
- A Motivational / Inspirational Speaker. See Speaker Page
- Have lived with a brain injury and an invisible disability for 45 + years
- Possess a unique perspective as an individual — who grew up with, lived with, worked professionally as and received services — while living with a brain injury and an invisible disability for the past 45 years. Consequently, I am uniquely equipped, prepared and qualified to provide insight and assistance to both individuals who are living with brain injuries and to the professional community that seek to serve those individuals, their families and their caregivers. See my series My Journey thus Far
- Providing educational tools to Students, Professors, Professionals, Associations and Organizations to compliment their service provision — to individuals, families and caregivers impacted by brain injuries. See my Site Map for my Articles
- A growing and successful web log that is fulfilling a unique need on the world wide web. See my Publications / Honors page
I look forward to being of service to you and to the individuals, families and caregivers whom you seek to serve.
Craig
Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Second Chance to Live
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/
Sharing Hope in the Face of Adversity
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Our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but to build us up.
David Kuhn said
Mr. Phillips,
My name is David Kuhn. I am the Coordinator for the Indiana Brain Injury Association’s Terre Haute Support Group. I wanted to thank you for providing me with the information from your website and the articles you have published. I’ve encouraged our support group members to read the articles from “Second Chance to Live” and if they so desire, discuss the articles at our monthly meetings.
I am an Indiana State Trooper. I was fortunate enough to survive a line of duty car accident in 1996. I suffered a TBI as a result of this accident. A year and a half after the accident, I began having seizures, due to the TBI that I suffered. Initially, with the aid of different types of anti-seizure medications, I was able to control the seizure activity and return to duty. Several years later, my seizure activity returned, and I once again began working with the doctors, to adjust both my medication levels and the types of medications. This went on for six years.
During this time period of time, I continued to work, but on a limited duty status, at our Post. Ultimately, it was determined the only way to control my seizure activity would be to undergo a Frontal Temporal Lobectomy. Six years of partially controlled seizure activity and my initial TBI had produced a significant amount of scar tissue, on the right side of my brain. The surgery went well and my seizure activity has been reduced a great deal. I still continue to take ASD’s (Anti-Seizure Drugs), but I have a great deal more confidence in my ability to control my seizure activity.
Since my accident, in 1996: I’ve suffered from uncontrollable seizure activity, the Premature birth of our first and only child, a Frontal Temporal Lobectomy (which resulted in me being placed on disability and having to give up a job that I cherished), a flood in which we lost both of our cars and suffered a significant amount of damage to our home, a dog bite on my arm the same night of the flood (which became infected and resulted in an emergency surgery, to prevent the spread of infection), and now the struggle to find employment, while on disability.
Needless to say, my loved ones, friends, and previous co-workers continue to joke about how they don’t want to stand to close to me, for fear of the bad luck rubbing off. As a result of the events since 1996, it’s been extremely hard to remain positive about anything in my life. However, thanks to the support of my family, friends, and previous co-workers, it’s been a great deal easier. In addition to this support, I have a wonderful sense of humor. This sense of humor has been challenged, but still exists, and helps pull me through life’s continuing challenges. I’ve read so many books from authors who have experienced: TBI’S, seizure activity, brain cancer, strokes, aneurysms, and provided assistance to people who have or are suffering from these types of problems. These books or articles continue to help reassure me, that there are others out there who live with the same, if not worse, issues that I do.
Oddly enough, I too, want to do anything I can, to help improve, or sustain, the quality of life for these people. I commend you for all you have done, and I’m sure will continue to do, to help people improve the quality of life for: individuals who have suffered brain injuries, their family members, loved ones, and care givers. This type of devotion is an example to others of how to embrace their, “Second Chance to Live.” I again thank for your efforts.
David Kuhn
IBIA / Terre Haute Support Group Coordinator
secondchancetolive said
Hi David,
Thank you very much for taking the time to write to me. I am honored by your time and kindness Sir. You are a blessing to me.Thank you also for sharing Second Chance to Live with your support groups. I look forward to being of service to you and the members of the support group. Please do make sure that the members of the group understand Copyright. In the event that individuals want to copy an article to share with the support group, please have them copy and paste my Resource Box at the bottom of the article to protect my ownership and Copyright David. Thank you Sir.
Here is a copy of my Resource Box.
Resource Box
Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA is the creator and author of Second Chance to Live. Second Chance to Live presents topics to encourage, motivate, empower and provide hope to the reader to live life on life’s terms. Our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but they are meant to build us up! Please visit Mr. Phillips’ web address at http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/. For an in depth view of his process, please read his article, My Journey thus Far.http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/02/18/my-journey-thus-far/. Please not that All material presented on Second Chance to Live is copyright and cannot be copied, reproduced, or distributed in any way without the express, written permission and consent of Craig J. Phillips, MRC, BA. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing what you have shared with me concerning your journey David. Thank you also for your years of service as a State Trooper. God bless you both you and your fellow State Troopers for your work and service David.
You have done marvelously and I am happy to hear that your seizures have become manageable. Thankfully, I have not experienced any seizures in the past 42 years after the accident that led to my brain injury David. My injury occurred in 1967 when I was 10 years old. If you are interested, you may read about my process in my series, My Journey thus Far. Here is a link to the 1st Part of the article David. http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/02/18/my-journey-thus-far/.
I do not know if you are aware that I have a Site Map which contain links to the articles that I have written and published on Second Chance to Live. Here is the link to my Site Map page Sir. http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/site-map/. To date I have written a total of 627 articles. I write all of my articles from a position of identification, as I believe there is tremendous power in identification David. Here is the link to an article that I have written to share my thoughts on the power of identification David. My Focus http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/my-focus/.
I believe that you will be able to identify with me as you read through articles that I have written for Second Chance to Live. I have had comments sent to me by individuals living with brain injuries who say that I put into words what they are feeling and wish they could verbalize David. As you have questions, please do not hesitate to ask Sir. All questions are good questions David.
Thank you again for sharing the message of Second Chance to Live with your support groups. I look forward to being of service to them and to you Sir. Please share Second Chance to Live with anyone who you think could benefit from my message of hope. All the articles that I write and publish are designed to encourage, motivate, empower and provide hope to anyone who has been impacted by trauma, abuse or adversity.
Thank you again for reaching out to me. Please continue to stay in touch with me Sir. Thank you.
Have a simply phenomenal day and God bless both you and your family David.
Craig
Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Second Chance to Live
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/
Our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but to build us up!
Tina Garcia said
Hi Craig,
Congradulations on the good work displayed on your web page. I’m hoping that we can find a way to work together to protect TBI and other impaired policyholders from financial exploitation by Insurance companies.
I use my story to illustrate the ‘crazy making’ exploitation tactics used by Insurance companies against brain injured policyholders. The fact that I finished law school, with reasonable accomondations, allows me to legitamately say that I am a brain injured lawyer. And, the SPECT and other brain imaging tests permit me to prove that I completed law school with a documented half of a functioning brain. Insurance defense lawyers aided by a US federal Magistrate judge dispute medical doctors and brain test results claiming that since I got better grades than they did in law school, I could not have a TBI. But, a person can’t fake brain imaging scans.
Together with the Center for People With Disabilities, we are forming an insurance advocacy group. Please consider joining us to get the word out.
Blessings,
Tina
secondchancetolive said
Hi Tina,
Thank you for writing to me and for your thoughts concerning Second Chance to Live. I have been thinking about your email through the week and wanted to respond Tina. I agree with you. I got good grades in the academic part of undergraduate and graduate school, however did not fair well in practicum and internship settings. I did well in the academic part of the process because academics are structured. Because of the damage to my right frontal lobe in the accident in 1967 and other parts of my brain (no doubt) I had a long history of having interpersonal difficulties. The problem was not that I acted out or was antisocial by any means. My difficulties stemmed from impulse control, not reading social cues — in real time — and difficulties reading non-verbal body language.
In my experience, I bought into various people (s) including my own denial systems for many years. You can read about my struggles in my 7 part series My Journey thus Far. Here is Part 1, which has links to all the other parts of the article — http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/02/18/my-journey-thus-far/. I have written other articles that you may find to be helpful Tina. I write all of my articles from the power of identification. Please read my article, My Focus http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/my-focus/.
I have written other articles for Second Chance to Live that can be found in my Site Map http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/site-map/. I have written and listed 651 articles in my Site Map. You may like to read through the titles. Each title is an active link to the actual article. In particular, I would encourage you to read several of my articles Tina. I will list those articles below and include active links to those articles. As you read through each article, you may find yourself being validated. As you read through these articles and you have questions, please feel free to ask. All questions are good questions.
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/05/12/traumatic-brain-injury-and-denial-my-perspective-as-a-tbi-survivor/
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/08/14/my-struggle-living-with-an-invisible-disability/ — a 4 part series
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/08/21/having-an-invisible-disability-%E2%80%93-the-consequence-of-denying-my-reality%E2%80%94part-1/ — a 2 part series
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/08/21/having-an-invisible-disability-%E2%80%93-the-consequence-of-denying-my-reality%E2%80%94part-1/ — a 2 part series
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/08/28/traumatic-brain-injury-and-the-double-bind/
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/11/16/traumatic-brain-injury-and-the-identified-patient-%E2%80%93-part-1/ — a 2 part series
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2009/02/03/brain-injury-self-esteem-self-respect-and-significance/
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/05/25/whose-shame-are-you-carrying/
http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/05/26/displaced-sadness/
What is keeping you Stuck? http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com/2007/03/21/did-you-see-that/
I do not know what you are suggesting concerning helping you get the word out. I typically do not advertise or promote businesses or web sites, as I attempt to keep Second Chance to Live clean — to protect brain injury survivors from being exploited. My mission and vision is to empower individuals living with brain injuries and other kinds of disabilities to empower themselves, their dreams and their destinies. Please let me know how I can be of service to the individuals / families that you serve there at the Center for Disabilities rights through Second Chance to Live.
I will say so long for now. Thank you again for writing to me.
Have a pleasant rest of your day and God bless you and your family Tina.
Craig
Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA
Second Chance to Live
http://www.secondchancetolive.wordpress.com
Because our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but they are meant to build us up!
faye nunnelee byrd said
I have been blessed with finding you web page I was injuryed at work in 1988 and have since taken my poems and other thoughts a feeling and written them but as of yet have fornd no place to share them except a short article/poem in a nursing magazine I am a RN I beleive that what I have to saywill be of help to others can you give me some advise on how to influence the greater autidance
Second Chance to Live said
Hi Faye,
Thank you my friend. Excellent. I am happy to have you as a part of the Second Chance to Live family. You are always welcome at my table Faye. I started to answer your comment / question, “I have been blessed with finding you web page I was injuryed at work in 1988 and have since taken my poems and other thoughts a feeling and written them but as of yet have fornd no place to share them except a short article/poem in a nursing magazine I am a RN I beleive that what I have to saywill be of help to others can you give me some advise on how to influence the greater autidance.” and I had an idea that more people may be interested in hearing the answer, not mentioning your name. I finished writing an article and here is a link to the article my friend, Living with a Traumatic Brain Injury — How to Influence Your World
As you have the time and energy, please give the article a read and let me know what you think Faye. Thank you.
I will say so long for now. Have a fulfilling remainder of your day and God bless both you and your family Faye.
Craig