Rachel Horak
DNP ARNP CPNP-PC
"I am honored to be considered as a member of your child's care team. It's my hope we can create a long lasting relationship where you feel supported and safe. I have spent the majority of my life and career working with children, and feel most inspired when I am helping them feel understood, supported, and empowered to reach their goals"
When not in clinic, Rachel can be found outside — swimming, hiking, or traveling somewhere with her husband and dog. She loves learning new things, spending time with her nieces and nephews, and always makes room for a creative project or two. Her work with kids comes from that same place: curiosity, patience, and genuine care.
About Our Providers
Education, Licensures, Affiliations
Dr. Rachel Horak
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Portland
Doctorate of Nursing Practice - Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, University of Washington
Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner, Washington State Board of Nursing
Board Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care, Pediatric Nursing Certification Board
Board Certified Registered Nurse, Washington State Board of Nursing
Member of National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP)
So, what do all those letters behind the name actually mean?
If you looked at DNP, ARNP, CPNP-PC and thought it looked like a random scramble of the alphabet, you are not alone! Let’s break down the "alphabet soup" so you know exactly who is caring for your child:
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DNP (Doctor of Nursing Practice): Rachel went all the way to the top of her clinical education to earn her doctorate from the University of Washington. This means her care is grounded in the absolute highest level of clinical research and evidence-based practice.
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ARNP (Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner): She is an advanced practice nurse, licensed to diagnose, treat, and prescribe medications.
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CPNP-PC (Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner - Primary Care): This is the heart of her background. She is board-certified specifically in pediatric primary care—meaning her entire training is dedicated strictly to the physical, emotional, and developmental health of children and adolescents.
Rachel's "Why"
Throughout her years in pediatrics, Rachel kept seeing the same heartbreaking gap: families desperately trying to find accessible, high-quality health care for their child, only to be met with months-long waitlists while their child fell further behind.
She chose to focus her doctoral expertise on pediatric mental health and medication management because she wanted to be there for families before the crisis — not after.
Dr. Horak believes that mental health is health. Her approach is rooted in the latest evidence and delivered through a holistic lens — looking at the whole child, not just a diagnosis. She considers physical health, emotional well-being, family dynamics, and lifestyle alongside medication management, because children do not exist in a vacuum. Every piece matters.
Her goal is never to rush to a prescription or put a child in a box. It is to use her clinical and pediatric expertise to find the safest, most effective, and most personalized path forward — so every child she works with can feel like themselves again.
Autism-Related Challenges
Your child's brain is wired in its own unique way — and that is a part of who they are. But many children with autism also experience challenges that get in the way of their comfort and daily life, like intense frustration, difficulty sleeping, or overwhelming anxiety. Medication does not treat autism itself — it eases the specific struggles that are making each day harder for your child.
Anxiety & Depression
Sadness, worry, and frustration are normal human emotions — every child feels them, and they serve an important purpose. But sometimes, a child's brain can turn up the volume on these feelings, making them bigger, louder, or longer-lasting than the situation calls for. When that happens, it can become hard for a child to learn, make friends, sleep, or simply enjoy being a kid.
ADHD
Every child's brain has a built-in system for paying attention, staying organized, and thinking before acting. In children with ADHD, that system can work differently— not because your child is not trying hard enough, but because the brain's signals are not getting through the way they need to.
Clinical Focus
Rachel is preparing to welcome new patients in Fall 2026. To ensure we can provide the highly individualized, specialized care your child deserves, we begin our process with a brief, collaborative consultation. Please fill out the Let's Connect form to introduce your child, and we will contact you to discuss if our clinical approach is the best fit for your needs.
Ready to partner with us in Fall 2026?
Privacy Notice:
This contact form is for general inquiries only. It is not a secure, HIPAA-compliant platform for sharing private medical details. Please do not include sensitive health history or diagnostic information here; we will collect those details securely later.
If you or your child are experiencing a medical or mental health emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately. Submitting this form does not establish a patient-provider relationship