Debdeep Nath MSN, PNP, PMHS
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Pediatric Mental Health Specialist
Compassionate pediatric mental health care built around how neurodivergent kids experience the world.
For autism, ADHD, PDA, anxiety, and complex, overlapping needs - especially when standard approaches have not fit your child or your family.
I care for the whole child, not just the diagnosis, with neurodivergent-affirming and evidence-based care
With 10+ years of pediatric clinical experience, I provide thoughtful assessment, parent-consultation, and medication management tailored to each child’s needs
I make time to listen, understand, and partner with families through 90-minute intakes and unhurried follow-up visits
I offer specialized support for children with a PDA profile, an area where many families have had difficulty finding informed care
Who I Work With
Care for Complex, Overlapping Needs
I specialize in children and teens whose presentations are layered, whose diagnoses overlap, or whose previous treatment has only addressed part of the picture. Neurodivergent children rarely present with just one isolated concern, and effective care should account for how everything interacts.
Autistic children often experience anxiety, depression, irritability, challenging behaviors, burnout, intrusive thoughts, and other overlapping symptoms. We treat co-occurring concerns without losing sight of the child’s underlying neurodevelopmental profile.
Autism with co-occurring concerns
ADHD often overlaps with anxiety, emotional dysregulation, sleep problems, and sensory differences. We approach treatment carefully so that helping one area does not unintentionally worsen another.
ADHD and complex presentations
We provide informed assessment and support for children with a PDA profile, with care designed to reduce distress and avoid escalating demand-related threat responses.
PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance)
Sleep, sensory, nutritional, and appetite concerns
Sleep problems, sensory differences, appetite changes, and nutrition-related concerns can all affect mood, behavior, attention, and daily functioning. We evaluate these concerns as part of the larger clinical picture, not as isolated symptoms.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I run a small, focused practice in SW Portland, near Washington Square, and most care takes place in-person at my office designed for the children and families I serve. I value in-person care because direct behavioral observation is often important clinical information, especially for neurodivergent children. Transitions, sensory responses, regulation, and interpersonal dynamics are often much harder to assess accurately on a screen. Telehealth is available when it is clinically appropriate, including for parent-only sessions, stable established patients, families traveling long distances, or when the child is unable to leave their home. I work with each family to find the right balance between in-person and virtual care.
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It means I do not treat autism, ADHD, or PDA as problems to erase. I view neurodivergence as a real and important part of how a child experiences the world. Care is focused on reducing distress, supporting functioning, and treating co-occurring concerns such as anxiety, depression, sleep problems, or emotional dysregulation without losing sight of the child’s underlying neurodevelopmental profile.
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That decision is made carefully and individually. Some children benefit significantly from medication, while others do better with non-medication approaches. I do not prescribe by default, and I do not avoid medication when it could meaningfully reduce suffering and improve day-to-day functioning. We collaboratively look at the full picture together and make decisions based on what is most likely to help your child.
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Yes. With your permission, I coordinate care with therapists, pediatricians, schools, and other involved providers when that collaboration will help support your child more effectively. Good pediatric mental health care is collaborative, especially when concerns overlap across settings.
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I will tell you directly. Not every provider is the right fit for every child or every clinical situation. If I believe your child would be better served by a different level of care, a different specialist, or a different treatment setting, I will be honest about that and help guide you toward a more appropriate next step.
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I work with children and youth age 3-21 years across a range of developmental stages. Fit depends not only on age, but also on the clinical question, the child’s developmental profile, and whether my practice is the right setting for their needs. If I do not think I am the best fit, I will tell you that clearly and help point you toward a more appropriate next step.
Hello, I am Debdeep Nath, a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner and Pediatric Mental Health Specialist.
Why Choose Clarity Center?
I founded Clarity Center in 2017 to create the kind of practice I saw many children and families needing but struggling to find: care that brings pediatric perspective, psychiatric expertise, and a nuanced understanding of neurodivergence together in one place. Too often, children with complex, overlapping presentations—especially autistic children, children with ADHD, and children with PDA profiles—receive fragmented or one-size-fits-all treatment that does not fully account for the broader developmental picture.
My practice is built for children and adolescents whose needs are layered: overlapping diagnoses, anxiety, mood symptoms, challenging behaviors, sleep concerns, sensory differences, appetite and nutritional issues, and presentations that do not fit neatly into a standard template. I work to hold the whole picture at once, with care that is both clinically rigorous, evidence-based, and neurodivergent-affirming.
A particular area of focus in my practice is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), an emerging autism profile often shaped by high anxiety, a need for autonomy, and distress around perceived demands. I specialize in differentiating PDA from look-alike presentations such as ADHD and oppositionality, and in supporting children in ways that reduce escalation and respect the underlying threat response. PDA is a strategic focus of my clinical work and an active area of my writing.
I was born and raised in India and came to the United States at 18. My work with children and families has been shaped by both professional and personal experience—from serving as a camp nurse and pursuing music and the arts, to parenting two young children of my own. In addition to clinical practice, I teach and mentor nursing students as part-time faculty at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and volunteer with the Autism Society of Oregon. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and spending time with my family in the outdoors of the Pacific Northwest. I also write on mental health, neurodevelopment, and clinical practice on Substack.
Education:
BA, Yale College
MSN, Yale University - School of Nursing
Certifications:
Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner - American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
Pediatric Primary Care Mental Health Specialist - Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB)
Practice Information
Insurance and Fees
In-network with:
Aetna
Blue Cross/Blue Shield
Cigna
Moda
PacificSource
United Healthcare
Out-of-network and Self-pay options available, contact the practice for details.
Scheduling
I do not maintain a waitlist. New patient visits are scheduled based on mutual availability, and as of summer 2026, most families are able to schedule within 1-2 weeks after the free consult call. Established patients can self-schedule using the Patient Portal. Please provide at least 48 hours notice for cancellations or rescheduling.New Patient Process
Most intakes begin with a 60-75 minute parent session focused on history, current concerns, and the child’s broader developmental and mental health picture. This is usually followed by a 45-60 minute in-person visit with the child, allowing for direct behavioral observation and a more complete assessment.
Most new patient visits are in person. Telehealth is available when clinically appropriate. For most families, a combination of in-person and virtual care works best.