Traumatic Brain Injury Research

Read the transcript, https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/Finding%20Purpose%20and%20Not%20Giving%20Up%20After%20Brain%20Injury%20with%20Craig%20J.%20Phillips-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

2025 Winter BrainStorm: This presentation is sponsored by the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System and Kessler Foundation.

"Second Chance to Live" is the inspiring story and mission of Craig J. Phillips, a rehabilitation counselor who turned his own traumatic brain injury into a source of hope for others. After surviving a severe accident at 10 years old, Craig faced years of struggles, including being told he was unemployable. Undeterred, he founded SecondChancetoLive.org, a website offering a holistic approach to brain injury recovery that addresses mind, body, spirit, soul, and emotions.

For over 18 years, Craig has created thousands of articles, videos, eBooks, and keynote presentations to empower those living with brain injuries. He’s spoken across the U.S. 143 times and works to inspire both individuals and medical professionals. His message: You are not defined by your injury; recovery is possible.

Contact Craig J. Phillips at [email protected]
Second Chance to Live website - https://secondchancetolive.org

Missed our past events? View them at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL21CEB6CAC402EA50

Interested in participating in our research remotely or in-person? go to
https://KesslerFoundation.org/join

This is a recording of the virtual event which was on February 27, 2025

Read the transcript at https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/Brainwaves%20SPRING%202025%20Audio%20Newsletter%20TRANSCRIPT-V2.pdf

Discover how a life-altering bike accident transformed Stacia Bissell, MEd, into a powerful voice for the traumatic brain injury community. As a brain injury coach, educator, author, and TBI survivor, Stacia shares her personal battle with chronic pain, memory challenges, and the crucial role of support systems in recovery. 

This episode also highlights groundbreaking research from Kessler Foundation, demonstrating how modern treatment approaches are revolutionizing TBI recovery.  Learn about the unexpected heroes in TBI recovery - from using exercise as medicine to the vital services provided by organizations like Plan NJ. 

Ready to be inspired by a story of remarkable resilience and discover valuable resources for TBI recovery? Listen to this powerful episode that bridges hope with practical guidance.

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Chapters 

00:00:04 - Overcoming Traumatic Brain Injury 

00:01:53 - Finding Strength Through Community 

00:03:17 - Resilience and Recovery After Brain Injury 

00:04:44 - Importance of Exercise in Recovery 

00:05:53 - Types of Exercise and Tips

00:06:40 - Setting Goals for Health Improvement  

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Read this newsletter at https://kesslerfoundation.org/march-2025-tbi-brainwaves

Missed a newsletter, check out our Brainwaves archives, https://kesslerfoundation.org/publication-archives#block-traumatic-brain-injury-research-newsletter

Interested in participating in our research remotely or in-person? Go to KesslerFoundation.org/join

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Kessler Foundation uses AI voices and narrators to make our media as accessible as possible. These tools help us ensure that individuals with visual or cognitive impairments are not prevented from accessing the materials that Kessler Foundation uses to change the lives of people with disabilities. 
 
These automated voices may not correctly capture intonation or pronunciation that may be clearer in the accompanying text. If you encounter any issues related to Kessler Foundation's use of AI narrators in our multimedia content, please reach out to [email protected]

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Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure and subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded in May 2025 and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

Read the transcription - https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/When%20a%20brain%20injury%20disrupts%20your%20sleep-Transcription.pdf

In people with traumatic brain injury, disruptions to sleep are pervasive, affecting 50% to 70% of people and manifesting as difficulties in falling asleep or frequent nighttime awakenings. The repercussions of inadequate sleep can encompass daytime fatigue, cognitive challenges, emotional instability, and even heightened vulnerability to depression and strained relationships. After TBI, insomnia often persists as a prevalent sleep problem, impacting peoples' overall well-being. Research conducted by scientists at Kessler Foundation underscored the enduring nature of post-TBI insomnia, with 60% experiencing improvements while 40% continued to grapple with sleep disturbances, resulting in heightened fatigue, depression, and hindered daily activities. Notably, the study revealed the significance of good sleep hygiene in mitigating these challenges and highlighted the underutilization of non-medication treatments for post-TBI insomnia, suggesting an imperative for alternative treatment approaches.

This research emphasizes the prolonged influence of sleep complications following a brain injury on mental health, emphasizing the urgent need for more effective, medication-free treatment options. It advocates seeking guidance from healthcare professionals, including doctors and sleep specialists, while promoting the significance of upholding a healthy sleep-wake cycle through adherence to good sleep hygiene practices. Moreover, it emphasizes the necessity for further exploration of non-medication treatments and alternative strategies to address post-TBI insomnia, shedding light on the critical role of comprehensive, holistic care in supporting peoples' recovery and well-being.

Article Timestamps:

Introduction - 0:00 - 0:28
When a brain injury disrupts your sleep… - 0:29 - 1:17
What does the research tell us - 1:17 - 2:00
Who did the study look at? - 2:00 - 2:34
Why is this study important - 2:35 - 2:52
What can you do? - 2:53 - 3:05
Learn more about this research - 3:06

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Read this summary at https://kesslerfoundation.org/when-brain-injury-disrupt-sleep

Missed a summary, check out our Real-Life Science archives, https://kesslerfoundation.org/publication-archives#block-consumer-friendly-tbi-study-summaries

Interested in participating in our research remotely or in-person? Go to KesslerFoundation.org/join

=========================================================
Kessler Foundation uses AI voices and narrators to make our media as accessible as possible. These tools help us ensure that individuals with visual or cognitive impairments are not prevented from accessing the materials that Kessler Foundation uses to change the lives of people with disabilities. 
 
These automated voices may not correctly capture intonation or pronunciation that may be clearer in the accompanying text. If you encounter any issues related to Kessler Foundation's use of AI narrators in our multimedia content, please reach out to [email protected]

=========================================================
Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure and subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded in May 2024 and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer for Kessler Foundation.

Read the transcript at https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2025-05/FALL-2024-BrainStorm_Recycling%20Pain_Pain%20to%20Purpose-LukeBohnenberger-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

Facing a mere five percent chance of survival after a devastating highway accident, Luke Bohnenberger's story is a powerful testament to human resilience. After being ejected from a vehicle, Luke underwent a critical craniotomy that would change his life forever.

In "Recycling Pain: Pain to Purpose" Luke shares how he transformed his traumatic brain injury experience into a mission to help others. Despite battling uncontrollable rage, suicidal thoughts, and the loss of his former identity, he discovered that rock bottom could become a foundation for something greater.  

Key highlights:
Survived against 5% odds after a critical accident
Navigated through emotional trauma and recovery
Founded Vision to Victory coaching program
Emphasizes turning pain into purpose
Advocates for sharing experiences to help others heal

The presentation, part of the quarterly virtual speaker Brainstorm series, is sponsored by the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System and Kessler Foundation. It was recorded on Friday, November 13, 2024.

View more Brainstorm speaker series videos at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL21CEB6CAC402EA50 

Interested in participating in our research remotely or in-person? Go to KesslerFoundation.org/join

Read the transcript at https://kesslerfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/2024%20KesslerFoundation-Summer-Brainstorm_Look%20Closer.%20My%20Brain%20Injury%20Is%20Invisible-V2-TRANSCRIPT.pdf

Stacia Bissell, MEd, shares an inspiring story of overcoming the challenges of her traumatic brain injury (TBI) sustained 13 years ago. In her presentation, “Look Closer. My Brain Injury Is Invisible,” she discusses the profound impact the TBI had on her life, forcing her to adapt to a new reality and embrace her identity as a survivor. Despite these difficulties, Stacia found ways to thrive by pursuing roles as a brain injury coach, mentor, and advocate. Her resilience and determination to find a "healing process with no end" serve as an example for others navigating life after TBI. Stacia's powerful story sheds light on the invisible nature of brain injuries and the importance of building a supportive community for survivors and caregivers.

The presentation, part of the quarterly virtual speaker Brainstorm series, is sponsored by the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System and Kessler Foundation. It was recorded on Thursday, August 20, 2024.

View more Brainstorm speaker series videos at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL21CEB6CAC402EA50

Read the transcript.

Tune in to our Summer Brainstorm virtual speaker series presentation “’The Brainlash’ Way with author Gail L. Denton, PhD. Dr. Denton shares lessons, tips and strategies on living with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI)  As a patient turned professional MTBI life coach, Dr. Denton shares her first-hand insights and offers down-to-earth practical advice for every aspect of the MTBI recovery process.

The 2023 Summer Brainstorm Virtual Series is supported by Kessler Foundation, the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System, and by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research. Grant number 90DPTB0032

2023 Spring BrainStorm

Read the transcript

Kessler Foundation, in partnership with the Voices Advancing the Brain Injury Community (Voices), hosted a Mike-at-the-Mic session entitled “Transition to the World After Brain Injury.” A lively panel discussion – including facilitator Michael Greenwald and brain injury survivors - Sharon Naulty, Scott Pomann, Patty Thompson – covered challenges people with brain injury face when transitioning to the “real” world after brain injury. Discussion points included employment challenges, ways to advocate for yourself, whether to disclose your disability, and Kessler Foundation research studies and supports available to help them.

The mission of Voices is to champion and publicize the advocacy, rights, and needs of people who have survived a brain injury. The group is supported by the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey.

Interested in joining a study?

This series is supported by Kessler Foundation, the Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System, and by a grant from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR)#90DPTB0003.

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Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates. 

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

This podcast was recorded on March 24, 2023 and was edited by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer at Kessler Foundation.

Mindful Meditation Ep. 5 - 10-Minute Silence with Bell Tones Meditation, Extended Version
 
Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while alleviating depression and anxiety. Each mindfulness episode will offer a short and extended version without music, voice only.

What is mindful meditation? Mindfulness is the caring, compassionate, nonjudgmental awareness of our own experience and everything going on around us. Meditation involves the practices we do to develop the skill and capacity to develop mindful awareness.

The instructor in this series is Siobhan Gibbons, EdD, a licensed psychologist in New Jersey. Since 2010 she has been teaching stress management, mindfulness meditation, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. She completed her EdD in counseling psychology at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. She also completed her 200-Hour yoga teacher training at Inner Light Yoga Center now called Smart Asana Yoga. We will be introducing a new Mindful Meditation podcast each week in May.

This series is funded by Kessler Foundation’s Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research.

Listen to other episodes in this series

Learn more about Siobhan Gibbons, EdD

Studies conducted by the Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research at Kessler Foundation: 
 
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Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded January 30, 2023, and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer at Kessler Foundation.

Mindful Meditation Ep. 5 - 5-Minute Silence with Bell Tones Meditation
 
Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while alleviating depression and anxiety. Each mindfulness episode will offer a short and extended version without music, voice only.

What is mindful meditation? Mindfulness is the caring, compassionate, nonjudgmental awareness of our own experience and everything going on around us. Meditation involves the practices we do to develop the skill and capacity to develop mindful awareness.

The instructor in this series is Siobhan Gibbons, EdD, a licensed psychologist in New Jersey. Since 2010 she has been teaching stress management, mindfulness meditation, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. She completed her EdD in counseling psychology at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. She also completed her 200-Hour yoga teacher training at Inner Light Yoga Center now called Smart Asana Yoga. We will be introducing a new Mindful Meditation podcast each week in May.

This series is funded by Kessler Foundation’s Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research.

Listen to other episodes in this series

Learn more about Siobhan Gibbons, EdD

Studies conducted by the Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research at Kessler Foundation: 
 
=======================================================================
 
Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded January 30, 2023, and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer at Kessler Foundation.

Mindful Meditation Ep. 4 - 10-Minute Loving Kindness Meditation
 
Welcome to Kessler Foundation’s new four-part meditation series Mindful Meditation. The Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research is adapting mindfulness intervention methods to help improve control of attention and psychological well-being for individuals with TBI while alleviating depression and anxiety. Each mindfulness episode will offer a short and extended version without music, voice only.

What is mindful meditation? Mindfulness is the caring, compassionate, nonjudgmental awareness of our own experience and everything going on around us. Meditation involves the practices we do to develop the skill and capacity to develop mindful awareness.

The instructor in this series is Siobhan Gibbons, EdD, a licensed psychologist in New Jersey. Since 2010 she has been teaching stress management, mindfulness meditation, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. She completed her EdD in counseling psychology at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education. She also completed her 200-Hour yoga teacher training at Inner Light Yoga Center now called Smart Asana Yoga. We will be introducing a new Mindful Meditation podcast each week in May.

This series is funded by Kessler Foundation’s Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research.

Listen to other episodes in this series

Learn more about Siobhan Gibbons, EdD

Studies conducted by the Center for Traumatic Brain Injury Research at Kessler Foundation: 
 
=======================================================================
 
Tuned in to our podcast series lately? Join our listeners in 90 countries who enjoy learning about the work of Kessler Foundation. Be sure to subscribe to our SoundCloud channel “KesslerFoundation” for more research updates.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This podcast was recorded January 30, 2023, and was edited and produced by Joan Banks-Smith, Creative Producer at Kessler Foundation.