Aperio Trauma Clinic
At Aperio Trauma Clinic, we support individuals whose symptoms have not responded to standard treatment approaches, offering specialised evidence-based care for PTSD, Complex Trauma, and Treatment-Resistant Depression through Medicine Assisted Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) Intensive, and other tailored Trauma-focused treatments.
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Why the name Aperio?
Aperio is derived from the Latin word meaning to open, uncover, and bring to light. It reflects the process of trauma treatment: creating safety, uncovering what has been held beneath distress, and opening a path toward healing and reconnection.
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Our Approach
Our clinic provides carefully structured treatment pathways that combine psychological therapy, psychiatric expertise, and emerging evidence-based interventions such as Medicine Assisted Therapy and EMDR Intensive, delivered within regulated Australian clinical frameworks.
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When standard treatment has not been enough, a more specialised approach may be needed
* For individuals who have tried therapy, medication, and still feel stuck.
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* For those living with persistent symptoms of trauma, PTSD, or Depression despite genuine efforts to recover.
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* For people seeking a clinically rigorous pathway designed to support
meaningful and lasting change.
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Funding
In some cases, treatment may be eligible for third-party funding support. This can include schemes such as the Department of Veterans' Affairs, workers compensation insurers, and Victims Services NSW or equivalent victims of crime support programs. Where clinically appropriate, some components of treatment may also attract a Medicare rebate. Eligibility and approval pathways vary, and this can be discussed during the initial assessment process.
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RECOGNITION
You may recognise yourself here
You’ve engaged in therapy, sometimes for years.
You’ve tried different medications.
You understand your patterns, yet they haven’t shifted in the way you hoped.
And despite your efforts, something still feels unresolved.
You may feel overwhelmed, disconnected, or caught in the same cycles, even when you know, logically, what you “should” be doing.
This is not uncommon.
And it does not mean you have failed treatment.
Why standard approaches are not always enough
For many people, trauma is not fully resolved through approaches that focus primarily on thoughts, behaviours, or symptom reduction.
While these methods can be helpful, they do not always reach the deeper systems through which trauma is experienced and held.
Trauma can affect the nervous system, emotional processing, and the body’s internal sense of safety, often outside of conscious awareness.
When these systems remain unchanged, symptoms can persist despite significant effort.
A more integrated approach to care
At Aperio Trauma Clinic, we take a whole-of-system approach to treatment.
Our model integrates psychological therapy, medical oversight, and structured treatment pathways designed to work at a deeper level than standard approaches alone.
Care is delivered within a carefully regulated clinical framework, with strong emphasis on safety, preparation, and integration.
Our work is informed by evolving clinical research in the treatment of Trauma, PTSD, and Depression, particularly in cases where traditional approaches have not been sufficient.
Explore our clinic
Why Aperio
Aperio is grounded in thoughtful, evidence-based care for people whose symptoms have not improved through standard treatment approaches. We focus on treatment-resistant presentations through an integrated model of psychological and medical care, with structured pathways that may include Medicine Assisted Therapy, EMDR Intensive, and trauma-focused interventions.
All treatment is delivered within regulated clinical frameworks, with safety, professionalism, and individualised care at the centre.
A structured pathway to care
Assessment → Preparation → Treatment → Integration
TEAM
Dr Gavin Angus-Leppan
Psychiatrist
Dr Gavin Angus-Leppan is a Psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience in mental health. Supporting people affected by psychological trauma has been a defining thread throughout his career.
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He has worked extensively across both Sydney and the United Kingdom in Indigenous mental health, military and veterans’ services, acute psychiatry, and psychiatry of older adults. This breadth of experience has shaped a deep understanding of how trauma impacts the mind, body, and sense of self across the lifespan.​
Dr Christina Farrell
Clinical Psychologist
Dr Christina Farrell is a Clinical Psychologist with a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and extensive experience working with trauma, anxiety, and complex mental health presentations.
Her work is centred on supporting individuals who feel “stuck” — those who have engaged in therapy, often over many years, yet continue to experience persistent symptoms, emotional disconnection, or difficulty creating meaningful change.