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Associate Professor Sophie Isobel

Associate Professor of Mental Health
Sydney Nursing School
Faculty of Medicine and Health

Email

sophie.isobel@sydney.edu.au

Sophie is an Associate Professor of Mental Health Nursing in the Faculty of Medicine and Health. Her research is largely focused on trauma, trauma informed care and improving experiences of care for people who access mental health services. Sophie has worked for many years in mental health services in specialist nursing roles in perinatal mental health care, supporting children who have a parent with mental illness and implementing family focused practice and Trauma Informed Care. She currently teaches Mental Health, engages in qualitative research relevant to mental health service delivery, trauma, familial mental health and co-design, undertakes policy evaluation, and collaborates with services, groups and other interested folks to improve mental health care and practice.

Research interests

Sophie is interested in conversations, research collaborations, supervision, education and projects of many varieties. She is particularly interested in:

Mental Health System reform
Improving experiences of people accessing mental health services
Psychological trauma
Intergenerational trauma
Children of parents with mental illness
Perinatal mental health
Birth trauma
Trauma Informed Care
Ethics
Co-design
Qualitative methodologies

Teaching and supervision

Mental health, mental illness and well-being
Engagement, listening and psychological safety
Responding to distress in useful ways
Personal Recovery
The concept of trauma, the effects of trauma and responding to trauma
The ideals and realities of Trauma Informed Care
Ethics and mental health
Co-design

Associations

Prato Collaborative for parent and child mental healthhttps://www.parentfamilymentalhealth.com/

Associate Editor, Child Abuse and Neglecthttps://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/child-abuse-and-neglect/about/editorial-board

Awards and honours

Grants:

Domestic Violence Routine Screening Implementation Review, 2024, NSW Ministry of Health, PARVAN

Piloting an intervention to promote social connections amongst culturally diverse women with identified vulnerability in the perinatal period, 2022, Sydney Institute for Women Children and their families

Family Focused Recovery Framework evaluation.2021. NSW Ministry of Health, MHCYP

Collaborating with peer support leaders to develop the epistemic resources to meaningfully evaluate the transformative power of peer support practice for individuals and communities, UTS Social Impacts Grant

Evaluating a co-designed Supported Model of Research Partnership for enhancing lived experience participation in all stages of mental healthUTS SoNM

National Mental Health Commission, Exploring the role of Nurses in the Mental Health System

Empowering recovery from childhood trauma, NSW Ministry of Health Innovations funding, a partnership between Blue Knot Foundation and SLHD mental health 2017

Implementing Trauma Informed Care, 2013, NSWMinistry of Health NaMO

Implementing and evaluating family rooms in mental health units: 2012. NSW Ministry of Health NaMO

Children visiting inpatient units: a research project to review family focused practice, 2006, Ministry of Health NaMO

Themes

Mental health

Publications

By Type

Expand all

Journals

Isobel, S., Emerton, A., Lim-Gibson, S. (2024). Birth trauma in a population requiring inpatient mental health care in the postpartum period. Australasian Psychiatry. [More Information]
Mullen, A., Isobel, S., Harman, K., Tynan, R., Conrad, A. (2024). Consumers Accessing Their Mobile Phone in an Acute Inpatient Mental Health Unit: Experiences of Consumers and Staff. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. [More Information]
Allchin, B., Isobel, S. (2024). Re-imagining the vulnerability and risk framing of parents with mental illness and their children. Frontiers in Public Health, 12. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2024). Should Mother Baby Units be renamed Parent Baby Units? A critical reflection on gendered language in perinatal psychiatry. Australasian Psychiatry. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2024). Trauma in the lives of parents experiencing severe perinatal mental illness. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15. [More Information]
Thomas, M., Martin, E., Isobel, S. (2024). ‘Profound personal and professional impacts’: A qualitative study of clinician experiences of a mental health disaster response to Australia's black summer bushfires. Australian Journal of Rural Health. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2023). Considering the moral implications of psychiatric diagnosis for children. Children & Society. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2023). Trauma and the perinatal period: A review of the theory and practice of trauma-sensitive interactions for nurses and midwives. Nursing Open, 10(12), 7585-7595. [More Information]
White, C., Nash, L., Karageorge, A., van der Pol, R., Hunt, G., Hamilton, B., Isobel, S. (2022). Bridging the gap: A new integrated early intervention service for young people with complex mental health issues. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 16(2), 186-194. [More Information]
Reupert, A., Bee, P., Hosman, C., van Doesum, K., Drost, L., Falkov, A., Foster, K., Gatsou, L., Gladstone, B., Goodyear, M., Isobel, S., Kowalenko, N., et al (2022). Editorial Perspective: Prato Research Collaborative for change in parent and child mental health – principles and recommendations for working with children and parents living with parental mental illness. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 63(3), 350-353. [More Information]
McNaughton, K., Isobel, S., Phelan, L., Quilty, E. (2022). Trauma-informed training and education for professionals in Australia: a scoping review. The Journal of Mental Health, Training, Education and Practice, 17(6), 550-561. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Thomas, M. (2022). Vicarious trauma and nursing: An integrative review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 31(2), 247-259. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Pretty, D., Meehan, F., Smith, N. (2021). 'I feel like I have a voice': promoting mental health among Australian high school students through public speaking. Advances in Mental Health, 19(3), 272-282. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Gladstone, B., Goodyear, M., Furness, T., Foster, K. (2021). A qualitative inquiry into psychiatrists' perspectives on the relationship of psychological trauma to mental illness and treatment: implications for trauma-informed care. Journal of Mental Health, 30(6), 667-673. [More Information]
Nash, L., Isobel, S., Thomas, M., Nguyen, T., van der Pol, R. (2021). Clinician stakeholder experiences of a new youth mental health model in Australia: A qualitative study. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 15(6), 1637-1643. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Thomas, M., Boardman, H., Clenaghan, P. (2021). Does a community based recovery service reduce inpatient bed days? Australasian Psychiatry, 29(1), 37-40. [More Information]
Isobel, S., McCloughen, A., Goodyear, M., Foster, K. (2021). Intergenerational Trauma and Its Relationship to Mental Health Care: A Qualitative Inquiry. Community Mental Health Journal, 57(4), 631-643. [More Information]
Mullen, A., Isobel, S., Flanagan, K., Harman, K. (2021). Involving Mental Health Consumers in Nursing Handover: A Qualitative Study of Consumer Perspectives. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 42(8), 730-735. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2021). Is trauma informed care possible in the current public mental health system? Australasian Psychiatry, 29(6), 607-610. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2021). The 'trauma' of trauma-informed care. Australasian Psychiatry, 29(6), 604-606. [More Information]
Bellingham, B., Kemp, H., Boydell, K., Isobel, S., Gill, K., River, J. (2021). Towards epistemic justice doing: Examining the experiences and shifts in knowledge of lived experience researchers over the course of a mental health research training programme. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(6), 1588-1598. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2021). Trauma-informed qualitative research: Some methodological and practical considerations. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(S1), 1456-1469. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Wilson, A., Gill, K., Schelling, K., Howe, D. (2021). What is needed for Trauma Informed Mental Health Services in Australia? Perspectives of clinicians and managers. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(1), 72-82. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Wilson, A., Gill, K., Howe, D. (2021). ‘What would a trauma-informed mental health service look like?' Perspectives of people who access services. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(2), 495-505. [More Information]
Isobel, S., McCloughen, A., Foster, K. (2020). A frog in boiling water? A qualitative analysis of psychiatrists’ use of metaphor in relation to psychological trauma. Australasian Psychiatry, 28(6), 656-659. [More Information]
Mullen, A., Harman, K., Flanagan, K., O’Brien, B., Isobel, S. (2020). Involving mental health consumers in nursing handover: A qualitative study of nursing views of the practice and its implementation. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(6), 1157-1167. [More Information]
Mullen, A., Isobel, S., Flanagan, K., Key, K., Dunbar, A., Bell, A., Lewin, T. (2020). Motivational Interviewing: Reconciling Recovery-Focused Care and Mental Health Nursing Practice. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 41(9), 807-814. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Thomas, M. (2019). 'A different kind of space': Mixed methods evaluation of facilitated reflective practice groups for nurses in an acute inpatient mental health unit. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 33(6), 154-159. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2019). 'In some ways it all helps but in some ways it doesn't': The complexities of service users' experiences of inpatient mental health care in Australia. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28, 105-116. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Allchin, B., Goodyear, M., Gladstone, B. (2019). A Narrative Inquiry into Global Systems Change: Supporting family needs when a parent has a mental illness. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 310. [More Information]
Nielsen, F., Isobel, S., Starling, J. (2019). Evaluating the use of responsive art therapy in an inpatient child and adolescent mental health services unit. Australasian Psychiatry, 27(2), 165-170. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Goodyear, M., Furness, T., Foster, K. (2019). Preventing intergenerational trauma transmission: A critical interpretive synthesis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(7-8), 1100-1113. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Goodyear, M., Foster, K. (2019). Psychological Trauma in the Context of Familial Relationships: A Concept Analysis. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 20(4), 549-559. [More Information]
Parnas, S., Isobel, S. (2019). Using Relational Mindfulness to Facilitate Safety in the Clinical Encounter. Australasian Psychiatry, 27(6), 596-599. [More Information]
Reid, R., Escott, P., Isobel, S. (2018). Collaboration as a process and an outcome: Consumer experiences of collaborating with nurses in care planning in an acute inpatient mental health unit. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(4), 1204-1211. [More Information]
Parnas, S., Isobel, S. (2018). Navigating the Social Synapse: The neurobiology of Bedside Manner. Australasian Psychiatry, 26(1), 70-72. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Angus-Leppan, G. (2018). Neuro-reciprocity and Vicarious Trauma in Psychiatrists. Australasian Psychiatry, 26(4), 388-390. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Delgado, C. (2018). Safe and Collaborative Communication Skills: A Step towards Mental Health Nurses Implementing Trauma Informed Care. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 32(2), 291-296. [More Information]
Foster, K., Isobel, S. (2018). Towards relational recovery: Nurses' practices with consumers and families with dependent children in mental health inpatient units. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(2), 727-736. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Edwards, C. (2017). Using trauma informed care as a nursing model of care in an acute inpatient mental health unit: A practice development process. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 26(1), 88-94. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Pretty, D., Meehan, F. (2017). ‘They are the children of our clients, they are our responsibility’: a phenomenological evaluation of a school holiday program for children of adult clients of a mental health service. Advances in Mental Health, 15(2), 132-146. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Meehan, F., Pretty, D. (2016). An Emotional Awareness Based Parenting Group for Parents with Mental Illness: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study of Community Mental Health Nurse Facilitation. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 30(1), 35-40. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Clenaghan, P. (2016). Community Treatment Orders (CTOs): a demographic cross-sectional analysis. Australasian Psychiatry, 24(3), 272-277. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2016). Trauma informed care: a radical shift or basic good practice? Australasian Psychiatry, 24(6), 589-591. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2015). 'Because That`s the Way It`s Always Been Done': Reviewing the Nurse-Initiated Rules in a Mental Health Unit as a Step Toward Trauma-Informed Care. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 36(4), 272-278. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Foster, K., Edwards, C. (2015). Developing family rooms in mental health inpatient units: an exploratory descriptive study. BMC Health Services Research, 15, 1-9. [More Information]
Wand, T., Isobel, S., Derrick, K. (2015). Surveying clinician perceptions of risk assessment and management practices in mental health service provision. Australasian Psychiatry, 23(2), 147-153. [More Information]

show 44 more

By Year

Expand all

2024

Isobel, S., Emerton, A., Lim-Gibson, S. (2024). Birth trauma in a population requiring inpatient mental health care in the postpartum period. Australasian Psychiatry. [More Information]
Mullen, A., Isobel, S., Harman, K., Tynan, R., Conrad, A. (2024). Consumers Accessing Their Mobile Phone in an Acute Inpatient Mental Health Unit: Experiences of Consumers and Staff. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. [More Information]
Allchin, B., Isobel, S. (2024). Re-imagining the vulnerability and risk framing of parents with mental illness and their children. Frontiers in Public Health, 12. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2024). Should Mother Baby Units be renamed Parent Baby Units? A critical reflection on gendered language in perinatal psychiatry. Australasian Psychiatry. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2024). Trauma in the lives of parents experiencing severe perinatal mental illness. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15. [More Information]
Thomas, M., Martin, E., Isobel, S. (2024). ‘Profound personal and professional impacts’: A qualitative study of clinician experiences of a mental health disaster response to Australia's black summer bushfires. Australian Journal of Rural Health. [More Information]

show 3 more

2023

Isobel, S. (2023). Considering the moral implications of psychiatric diagnosis for children. Children & Society. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2023). Trauma and the perinatal period: A review of the theory and practice of trauma-sensitive interactions for nurses and midwives. Nursing Open, 10(12), 7585-7595. [More Information]

2022

White, C., Nash, L., Karageorge, A., van der Pol, R., Hunt, G., Hamilton, B., Isobel, S. (2022). Bridging the gap: A new integrated early intervention service for young people with complex mental health issues. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 16(2), 186-194. [More Information]
Reupert, A., Bee, P., Hosman, C., van Doesum, K., Drost, L., Falkov, A., Foster, K., Gatsou, L., Gladstone, B., Goodyear, M., Isobel, S., Kowalenko, N., et al (2022). Editorial Perspective: Prato Research Collaborative for change in parent and child mental health – principles and recommendations for working with children and parents living with parental mental illness. The Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 63(3), 350-353. [More Information]
McNaughton, K., Isobel, S., Phelan, L., Quilty, E. (2022). Trauma-informed training and education for professionals in Australia: a scoping review. The Journal of Mental Health, Training, Education and Practice, 17(6), 550-561. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Thomas, M. (2022). Vicarious trauma and nursing: An integrative review. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 31(2), 247-259. [More Information]

show 1 more

2021

Isobel, S., Pretty, D., Meehan, F., Smith, N. (2021). 'I feel like I have a voice': promoting mental health among Australian high school students through public speaking. Advances in Mental Health, 19(3), 272-282. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Gladstone, B., Goodyear, M., Furness, T., Foster, K. (2021). A qualitative inquiry into psychiatrists' perspectives on the relationship of psychological trauma to mental illness and treatment: implications for trauma-informed care. Journal of Mental Health, 30(6), 667-673. [More Information]
Nash, L., Isobel, S., Thomas, M., Nguyen, T., van der Pol, R. (2021). Clinician stakeholder experiences of a new youth mental health model in Australia: A qualitative study. Early Intervention in Psychiatry, 15(6), 1637-1643. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Thomas, M., Boardman, H., Clenaghan, P. (2021). Does a community based recovery service reduce inpatient bed days? Australasian Psychiatry, 29(1), 37-40. [More Information]
Isobel, S., McCloughen, A., Goodyear, M., Foster, K. (2021). Intergenerational Trauma and Its Relationship to Mental Health Care: A Qualitative Inquiry. Community Mental Health Journal, 57(4), 631-643. [More Information]
Mullen, A., Isobel, S., Flanagan, K., Harman, K. (2021). Involving Mental Health Consumers in Nursing Handover: A Qualitative Study of Consumer Perspectives. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 42(8), 730-735. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2021). Is trauma informed care possible in the current public mental health system? Australasian Psychiatry, 29(6), 607-610. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2021). The 'trauma' of trauma-informed care. Australasian Psychiatry, 29(6), 604-606. [More Information]
Bellingham, B., Kemp, H., Boydell, K., Isobel, S., Gill, K., River, J. (2021). Towards epistemic justice doing: Examining the experiences and shifts in knowledge of lived experience researchers over the course of a mental health research training programme. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(6), 1588-1598. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2021). Trauma-informed qualitative research: Some methodological and practical considerations. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(S1), 1456-1469. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Wilson, A., Gill, K., Schelling, K., Howe, D. (2021). What is needed for Trauma Informed Mental Health Services in Australia? Perspectives of clinicians and managers. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(1), 72-82. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Wilson, A., Gill, K., Howe, D. (2021). ‘What would a trauma-informed mental health service look like?' Perspectives of people who access services. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 30(2), 495-505. [More Information]

show 9 more

2020

Isobel, S., McCloughen, A., Foster, K. (2020). A frog in boiling water? A qualitative analysis of psychiatrists’ use of metaphor in relation to psychological trauma. Australasian Psychiatry, 28(6), 656-659. [More Information]
Mullen, A., Harman, K., Flanagan, K., O’Brien, B., Isobel, S. (2020). Involving mental health consumers in nursing handover: A qualitative study of nursing views of the practice and its implementation. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 29(6), 1157-1167. [More Information]
Mullen, A., Isobel, S., Flanagan, K., Key, K., Dunbar, A., Bell, A., Lewin, T. (2020). Motivational Interviewing: Reconciling Recovery-Focused Care and Mental Health Nursing Practice. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 41(9), 807-814. [More Information]

2019

Isobel, S., Thomas, M. (2019). 'A different kind of space': Mixed methods evaluation of facilitated reflective practice groups for nurses in an acute inpatient mental health unit. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 33(6), 154-159. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2019). 'In some ways it all helps but in some ways it doesn't': The complexities of service users' experiences of inpatient mental health care in Australia. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 28, 105-116. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Allchin, B., Goodyear, M., Gladstone, B. (2019). A Narrative Inquiry into Global Systems Change: Supporting family needs when a parent has a mental illness. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 310. [More Information]
Nielsen, F., Isobel, S., Starling, J. (2019). Evaluating the use of responsive art therapy in an inpatient child and adolescent mental health services unit. Australasian Psychiatry, 27(2), 165-170. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Goodyear, M., Furness, T., Foster, K. (2019). Preventing intergenerational trauma transmission: A critical interpretive synthesis. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 28(7-8), 1100-1113. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Goodyear, M., Foster, K. (2019). Psychological Trauma in the Context of Familial Relationships: A Concept Analysis. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 20(4), 549-559. [More Information]
Parnas, S., Isobel, S. (2019). Using Relational Mindfulness to Facilitate Safety in the Clinical Encounter. Australasian Psychiatry, 27(6), 596-599. [More Information]

show 4 more

2018

Reid, R., Escott, P., Isobel, S. (2018). Collaboration as a process and an outcome: Consumer experiences of collaborating with nurses in care planning in an acute inpatient mental health unit. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(4), 1204-1211. [More Information]
Parnas, S., Isobel, S. (2018). Navigating the Social Synapse: The neurobiology of Bedside Manner. Australasian Psychiatry, 26(1), 70-72. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Angus-Leppan, G. (2018). Neuro-reciprocity and Vicarious Trauma in Psychiatrists. Australasian Psychiatry, 26(4), 388-390. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Delgado, C. (2018). Safe and Collaborative Communication Skills: A Step towards Mental Health Nurses Implementing Trauma Informed Care. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 32(2), 291-296. [More Information]
Foster, K., Isobel, S. (2018). Towards relational recovery: Nurses' practices with consumers and families with dependent children in mental health inpatient units. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 27(2), 727-736. [More Information]

show 2 more

2017

Isobel, S., Edwards, C. (2017). Using trauma informed care as a nursing model of care in an acute inpatient mental health unit: A practice development process. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 26(1), 88-94. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Pretty, D., Meehan, F. (2017). ‘They are the children of our clients, they are our responsibility’: a phenomenological evaluation of a school holiday program for children of adult clients of a mental health service. Advances in Mental Health, 15(2), 132-146. [More Information]

2016

Isobel, S., Meehan, F., Pretty, D. (2016). An Emotional Awareness Based Parenting Group for Parents with Mental Illness: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study of Community Mental Health Nurse Facilitation. Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 30(1), 35-40. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Clenaghan, P. (2016). Community Treatment Orders (CTOs): a demographic cross-sectional analysis. Australasian Psychiatry, 24(3), 272-277. [More Information]
Isobel, S. (2016). Trauma informed care: a radical shift or basic good practice? Australasian Psychiatry, 24(6), 589-591. [More Information]

2015

Isobel, S. (2015). 'Because That`s the Way It`s Always Been Done': Reviewing the Nurse-Initiated Rules in a Mental Health Unit as a Step Toward Trauma-Informed Care. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 36(4), 272-278. [More Information]
Isobel, S., Foster, K., Edwards, C. (2015). Developing family rooms in mental health inpatient units: an exploratory descriptive study. BMC Health Services Research, 15, 1-9. [More Information]
Wand, T., Isobel, S., Derrick, K. (2015). Surveying clinician perceptions of risk assessment and management practices in mental health service provision. Australasian Psychiatry, 23(2), 147-153. [More Information]

Selected Grants

2021

Co-design and delivery of schizophrenia education with mental health consumers across health curricula: Learning from experience, El-Den S, Schneider C, O'Reilly C, Moles R, Collins J, Chen T, Saini B, Ong J, Scanlan J, McGrath M, McCloughen A, Isobel S, Howard R, Faculty of Medicine and Health/Philanthropy funding scheme

Non-academic outputs:

Recovery Oriented Language guide

Domestic Violence Routine Screening Evaluation

Family Focused Recovery Framework Evaluation 2020-2025

Towards Trauma Informed Research: a brief overview and practice guide

Trauma Informed Care and Practice Organisational Toolkit

Trauma Informed Leadership for Organisational Change: A Framework

Trauma-informed care in mental health services across NSW A framework for change

Towards a meaningful evaluation framework for Peer Work

TOWARDS

TRAUMAINFORMED

RESEARCH: