About Aperio Trauma Clinic
Aperio Trauma Clinic was founded by two experienced clinicians who recognised that many people living with trauma-related conditions continue to struggle despite years of therapy, medication, and genuine effort to recover.
For individuals with PTSD, Complex Trauma, and Treatment-Resistant Depression, standard treatment pathways can be helpful, but they are not always enough. Many patients are left feeling stuck, discouraged, or uncertain about where to turn next.
Aperio was established to offer a more specialised, evidence-based pathway for those requiring deeper and more integrated care.
The clinic brings together the combined expertise of a Psychiatrist and Clinical Psychologist, integrating medical oversight with trauma-focused psychotherapy within a carefully governed Australian clinical framework.
Our shared vision is to provide treatment that is:
evidence-based
ethical and clinically rigorous
personalised and compassionate
focused on meaningful long-term change
designed for people who have not improved through standard approaches
We believe recovery is still possible, even after years of frustration, when the right treatment model is matched to the right person.
Together, we created Aperio Trauma Clinic to provide that next step in care.
Meet Our Founders
Dr Gavin Angus-Leppan is a Consultant Psychiatrist with over 30 years of experience in mental health. Supporting people affected by psychological trauma has been a defining thread throughout his career. He has worked extensively in both Sydney and the United Kingdom across Indigenous mental health, military and veterans’ services, acute psychiatry, and psychiatry of older adults, developing a deep understanding of how trauma shapes the mind, body, and sense of self across the lifespan.
His former roles include Clinical Lead of a female acute admission ward, Psychiatrist within an inner-city Indigenous health service, and Lead Psychiatrist for a national veterans’ mental health service. These settings have given Gavin broad and nuanced experience supporting individuals living with PTSD, Complex PTSD, attachment trauma, personality vulnerabilities, anxiety, depression, and substance use difficulties.
Gavin works at the intersection of current research, biological psychiatry, and psychologically informed care. His approach integrates pharmacotherapies, psychotherapy, and trauma-focused modalities including EMDR, alongside emerging evidence-based treatments, in a way that is thoughtful, measured, and centred on patient safety. He is particularly interested in advancing treatment options for people living with persistent and complex trauma, guided by evolving research into how the brain and nervous system can heal.
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At the heart of his work is a strong belief that therapy can be a process of self-discovery, offering insights that unlock strength and resilience while supporting greater integration of the self. When people begin to make sense of what feels overwhelming, a renewed sense of control can emerge. He holds that effective therapy creates meaningful changes in the brain and can help unblock the capacity to grow through and beyond the impacts of trauma. His practice is grounded, compassionate, and collaborative, supporting people to move toward stability, integration, and long-term healing.
Dr Christina Farrell is a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience supporting adults navigating trauma, anxiety, depression, burnout, relationship difficulties, and the lasting effects of stressful life experiences. Helping people who feel stuck, overwhelmed, or disconnected has been a defining thread throughout her career. With a background spanning both psychology and senior corporate environments, Christina brings a deep understanding of how trauma, chronic stress, and modern life pressures can affect the mind, body, and sense of self.
Her clinical work has focused on supporting individuals experiencing PTSD, Complex PTSD, attachment trauma, emotional dysregulation, low self-worth, personality vulnerabilities, eating difficulties, and substance use concerns. She has worked in private practice with adults from diverse professional and personal backgrounds, developing a nuanced understanding of how trauma often presents beneath anxiety, depression, perfectionism, relationship conflict, and patterns of avoidance.
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Christina works at the intersection of evidence-based psychology, nervous system regulation, and trauma-informed care. Her therapeutic approach integrates Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), Schema Therapy, EMDR, and mindfulness-based interventions. She is particularly interested in helping people understand how unresolved trauma is held in both the mind and body, and how healing often requires more than insight alone.
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