Staff Directory

Doron Willis, MS, LMFT, PES

Title:
Associate Director of Student-Athlete Wellness
Email:

Doron is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist for the states of California and Michigan working as an Associate Director of Student-Athlete Wellness. In this role, he will provide mental health support to varsity athletes and teams on campus. Doron has years of experience helping individuals with mental health and performance issues. Having played Division-I football at Bethune-Cookman College as a scholarship athlete and as a walk-on at the University of South Carolina, his goal as a licensed clinician is to help student-athletes establish a healthy sense of self spiritually, emotionally, and mentally that will enable them to thrive in both sport and life. He also worked as a fitness trainer for over 15 years, which has provided him with a deep understanding of the mind body connection.

Doron earned his Master of Arts degree in Clinical Psychology with a concentration in marriage and family therapy from Phillips Graduate University located in Chatsworth, CA. Additionally, he is a Certified Anger Management Specialist-II, holds a certificate in Sport and Fitness Psychology from California State University Dominguez Hills, is trained in EMDR therapy, is a certified Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement Instructor, and is in the process of becoming a Certified Mental Performance Consultant through the Association for Applied Sport Psychology.

Doron is the author of two books titled, “The IT Factors for Athletic Dominance: Identifying the traits of elite athletes”, and “The Self-Possessed Athlete: The guide to playing with more emotional control, focus, and flow”. He is also a contributing author to the book, “Peak Performance: Mindset tools for athletes”.

Prior to coming to Michigan State University, Willis worked in the Los Angeles area in both private practice and in Westlake Village Sports Psychology facility under Dr. Carrie Hastings, who is the head sports psychologist for the Los Angeles Rams. Willis currently holds the following credentials and is currently listed on the following mental health directories:

• Doctor of Education in Sports Leadership (currently pursuing )-Concordia University Chicago
• Phillips Graduate University- M.A. in Clinical Psychology (2017)
• Arizona State University- B.S. in Healthy Lifestyle Coaching (2014)
• Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (California #126643, Michigan #4101007365)
• National Football League (NFL) Vetted Provider, since 2022
• Listed in the United States Olympics and Paralympic Committee Mental Health Registry, since 2025
• Independent Clinician on the Major League Baseball Player Association (MLBPA) Mental Health Directory, since 2025
• EMDR Trained- EMDR Institute
• ART (Accelerated Resolution Therapy) Trained
• Certified Anger Management Specialist II-National Anger Management Association
• Sport and Exercise Psychology Certificate-California State University Dominguez Hills (2013)
• Performance Enhancement Specialist-National Academy of Sports Medicine (2014)
• Mindful Sport Performance Enhancement Instructor-MSPE Institute (American Psychological Association approved) (2022)