Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Dorfman, MS,RD,CSSD,CCMS, LMHC,FAND.
Hi Lisa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’m Lisa Dorfman, MS, RD, CSSD, CCMS, LMHC, FAND, known by colleagues, clients, and friends as The Running Nutritionist.® My journey as a Registered Dietitian, Board Certified Sports Nutritionist, Licensed Mental Health Therapist and Certified Culinary Medicine Specialist and Certified Chef, and Certified Horticulture Specialist Organic Farmer began 4 decades ago by default after a near fatal head on car accident with a drunk driver detoured my professional music career and led me to my calling, survived and thrived helping thousands of clients since 1984.
As a former professional triathlete and runner, competing in 100s of races from track to 35 marathons (PR 2:52), sprint to IM triathlons, and as a member of Team USA for the World Championships in Long Distance Duathlon, I understand the process and journey of mindful preparation, dealing, healing, repairing, restoring, and rebuilding physically and emotionally. I also know the joy of success and of sharing others’ successes as I guide them to reach their personal best in health, sport, and life.
While I am no longer a pro athlete or competing at the professional level, I still think, feel, fuel, and train as an athlete. I have the privilege to work with some of the world’s finest athletes. These include Olympians, professionals, military service members, first responders, and “everyday athletes” like you—men, women, teens, and kids seeking to perform their best at sport, in school, at work, or at home.
You see, we are all athletes in life, just looking for tools and strategies to help us navigate through the marathons of our lives—balancing our more challenging times while trying to share and celebrate good times, living the lifestyle we’d like to lead with the people we love most. It takes courage to reach out to a therapist to lead a more fulfilling, happier life and take the first steps towards change.
I believe that each one of us is the expert of our own story. My role is to help clients draw on their strengths to overcome the issues holding them back from achieving their personal best now and in the future.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m Lisa Dorfman, known by colleagues, clients, and friends as The Running Nutritionist.® My journey as a professional triathlete and runner dates back to ’84, cut short by a near-fatal hit-and-run car accident in ’21. I understand the process and journey of healing physically and emotionally. It was not my first rodeo as I was also hit by a drunk driver as an 18-year-old college freshman studying to be a professional musician, which ended when the steering wheel reshaped my embouchure, how my lips could no longer play the beautiful tone on the flute, my instrument and career choice.
I was devastated, depressed, and no doubt physically and emotionally traumatized.
I went back to my roots as an athlete, studied nutrition and psychology to help myself and others like me to heal optimally and become their personal best regardless of what their struggle, trauma, or mental health/nutrition issues were in life, and live their life calling.
While I am no longer a pro athlete, nor competing at the professional level, I think, feel, fuel and continue to train as an athlete and have the privilege to work with some of the finest athletes in the world—Olympians, professionals, our military servicemen and women, first responders and “everyday athletes” like YOU—men, women, teens and kids seeking to perform your best whether at sport, in school, at work, or at home. As an 8x book author, global speaker on health, fitness, nutrition, and culinary topics, a numerous textbook and chapter contributor, and a magazine columnist, I believe I have chosen the right path for my career.
You see, we are all athletes in life, just looking for tools and strategies to help us navigate through the marathons of our lives—balancing our more challenging times while trying to share and celebrate good times, living the lifestyle we’d like to lead with the people we love most. It takes courage to reach out to a therapist to lead a more fulfilling, happier life and take the first steps towards change.
I believe that each one of us is the expert of our own story. My role is to help clients draw on their strengths to overcome the issues holding them back from achieving their personal best now and in the future.
I am here to support & empower others in that journey.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As one of a handful of sports nutritionists, licensed mental health, culinary medicine, and horticultural experts, I practice integrative and holistically using all the tools and resources, 4 decades of expertise with thousands of clients to help men, women, teens, and kids attain and maintain their personal best in health, sport, and life.
A Licensed Therapist and Nutritionist/Registered Dietitian in Florida & Utah, I draw on my expertise and experience to help enhance the lives of professional and “life” athletes seeking to optimize performance and overall health for sports, relationships, and careers. You can find more details on my expertise, as I hold several professional degrees, licenses, and certifications, and decades of experience, on my personal website https://www.lisadorfman.co/
My approach is holistic, using a variety of tools–EMDR, CBT, DBT, TIR, mindfulness, breathing, Nutrition Therapy, Reiki practice, and movement to help clients work through anxiety, stress, trauma, overtraining, energy (REDs), and injury issues; building motivation, self-esteem, and confidence in every chapter of their lives.
I work best with motivated teens and adults, no matter where you are in your journey to optimal physical and emotional health. You may find my therapy style a good fit for you if you are open and willing to trust the process, as I will incorporate different strategies to help you attain and maintain your personal best in health, sport, and life.
Whether you need conventional counseling, performance coaching, nutritional therapy, energy therapy, or fitness support, I can help. Together we will find the right tool to help you unwind and leave the past behind. We will work to move forward successfully with relationships, school, career, and your spiritual health. My approach uses any and all of my tools to help you reach optimal overall health as naturally as possible.
Services I Provide:
* Individual virtual and office-based therapy
* Corporate, hospitality organization, group retreats, military
* Nutrition assessment, dietary, and body composition assessment
* Nutrition Coaching, Consultation, and personalized programs
* Movement, Breathing, and Energy (Reiki) Therapy
* Culinary Medicine
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
I am older than I look, perform, compete, and live life like its always the first time, a new day and maybe the last day.
I live life to the fullest with my husband of 45 years, children, grandchildren, friends, colleagues, and church family.
Everyone I meet has meaning in my life and I pray that I have always made a small difference in their lives.
Pricing:
- contact directly
- insurance accepted for Therapy
- Nutrition $150-$450 for packages
- sliding scale for non-profit presentations
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lisadorfman.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therunningnutritionist/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/public/Lisa-Dorfman/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisadorfmanmsrd/
Image Credits
Rodrigo Gaya, black fitness shot
