Addiction Speaker · Karen Perlmutter, LISW-CP
Addiction is a family story. I help audiences see both sides of it.
From the TEDx stage to rooms full of judges, clinicians, and parents, I help audiences understand addiction in a way that's clinically grounded, deeply human, and surprisingly hopeful. People leave with new language, a clearer map, and fewer black-and-white answers.
TEDx Charleston 2022 (TED Editor's Pick) · LowCountry Mental Health Conference Keynote 2023 · Charleston Business Journal Woman of Influence · NPR · College of Charleston · SC judges' and lawyers' conferences · Wakeup Carolina
Watch my TEDx talk
The Island of Sanity: Navigating Through Loved Ones' Addictions (TEDxCharleston, 2022)
Addiction doesn't just happen to the person using. In this talk, I share why families need their own support, and how protecting your own "island of sanity" can change the way you respond to someone you love.
Sample topics
The Island of Sanity: Navigating Through a Loved One's Addiction
My TEDx talk, expanded for your audience: why families need support of their own, and how boundaries protect what matters most.
Both Sides of the Mountain: How Addiction Affects the Whole Family
Why addiction is never an individual problem, and what families experience that no one talks about.
Enabling or Abandoning? The Choices in Between
Moving families and professionals beyond black-and-white thinking about how to respond.
Rethinking Addiction: A Disease of Discomfort
A fresh, practical way to understand why people keep using despite devastating consequences.
Family Recovery Doesn't Have to Wait
What healing looks like for families while their loved one's path remains uncertain.
Who I speak for
Conferences and Professional Associations
Judges, Attorneys, and Court Programs
Colleges and Universities
Treatment Centers and Clinical Teams
Community, Faith, and Parent Organizations
Workplaces and Employee Wellness Programs
Formats: Keynotes · Workshops · Professional Trainings · Panels · Podcasts and Media
Let's talk about your event.
Share a few details about your audience, date, and goals, and I'll follow up to talk through the best fit.