The NBPA Mental Health & Wellness program provides current and former players with access to licensed clinical providers offering confidential crisis response, individual psychotherapy, family psychotherapy, couples psychotherapy, group psychotherapy, as well as psychiatric evaluation and treatment.
The NBPA Mental Health & Wellness team is also available for check-in appointments as needed throughout the NBA season and summer break.
To schedule an appointment, email Dr. William Parham (william.parham@nbpa.com), Michael Grinnell, LICSW (michael.grinnell@nbpa.com), or Derek Anderson (derek.anderson@nbpa.com) with "Scheduling" in the subject line, and a member from our team will follow-up to schedule your appointment. You can also call anyone of us to schedule an appointment:
Derek Anderson: (502) 264-1841
Michael Grinnell: (952) 200-2651
Dr. William Parham: (714) 501-3243
The NBPA Mental Health & Wellness program has a directory of licensed providers in every city there is an NBA franchise. The NBPA-certified mental health professionals provide a hybrid model of in-person and telehealth therapy options. Players can choose to meet with their therapist in person. Players also have the option of meeting with their therapist via telehealth.
Our licensed providers in the NBPA directory are a multidisciplinary, diverse group of clinicians with broad experiences and training treating a wide range of issues. Our team will send you the contact information for 3-5 providers in your respective area. If you have any preference for who you would like to work with, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate your request.
Due to issues of privacy, you cannot schedule an appointment for your teammate. If you are concerned about your teammate, let them know about the NBPA Mental Health & Wellness services and how to reach us. In addition, feel free to contact either member of the Mental Health and Wellness team (Dr. Parham, Michael Grinnell or Derek Anderson) for a confidential consultation regarding your teammate.
If a player is in immediate danger, please call 911.
No. Treatment confidentiality agreements safeguard the dissemination of an individual's health information to anyone unless authorized by the player.
Players do not have to report to teammates, coaches, assistant coaches, or general managers about meeting with a mental health professional. The only communication authorized for a therapist to speak with another individual about the work a player is doing with them is if the player signs a “Release of Information” form that gives the therapist permission to speak to a specific individual and share only the information that a player approves. In critical safety situations, (e.g., imminent suicidal/homicidal intent, child abuse, elder abuse) the treating therapist may break confidentiality, within limits, to consult with an appropriate professional.
No. We strongly encourage players to be proactive and utilize our services before a mental health crisis occurs. Maintaining good mental health and wellness, including developing and implementing healthy daily habits for basketball, physical health, family interactions, peer relationships, and business affairs, is important.
We strongly encourage you to reach out if you are concerned about your safety or are experiencing what feels like a psychological emergency. We encourage you to reach out if you are experiencing psychological distress, even if you might not consider it a "crisis."
Players can connect with a member from the NBPA Mental Health & Wellness team after business hours, and during weekends by calling Michael Grinnell: (952) 200-2651 or Dr. William Parham: (714) 501-3243. Players will be assisted by a trained clinician with expertise in player crisis counseling and assessment.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency call 911.
The cost of therapy sessions will vary based on the mental health provider. If the mental health provider accepts Cigna Health Insurance, a majority of the cost should be covered and players will only be responsible for copays. If the therapist does not accept Cigna insurance, then players will be responsible for covering the private cost of the therapy sessions based on the therapist hourly rate.
Simply put, telehealth is the remote delivery of services via videoconferencing or phone. This modality allows our clinicians to continue providing therapeutic services to players while maintaining adherence to social distancing guidelines.
Yes. Sessions can be conducted using video or phone. Having an open discussion about your preference with your therapist can provide them with important information about you and allow you to make an informed decision about which modality is best for you and your treatment.
Check-in sessions are supportive sessions designed for players who are unsure they want to engage in therapy, but would like to speak with a therapist. Players can contact a member of the NBPA mental health program directly to schedule 30-minute supportive care appointments as needed and available.
Our NBPA-certified psychiatrists offer psychopharmacological (medication) evaluation and management for a range of mental health issues, including: Depression, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Social Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, and Psychotic Disorders. If psychotherapy is indicated, the psychiatrist will, in most cases, refer individuals to counselors within the NBPA directory.
