About Us
Who we are
At the Sophia Healing Centre you are cared for by a small, experienced team of general practitioners who are also trained in Anthroposophical medicine. Dr Richard Drexel, Dr Helen Proctor and Dr Rob Maunsell each bring decades of medical practice, further training in integrative and movement-based therapies, and a shared commitment to seeing the whole human being – body, soul and spirit. While their individual paths and special interests are diverse, they work from a common foundation: careful listening, thoughtful diagnosis, and treatment plans that combine the best of conventional medicine with anthroposophical remedies, movement, artistic and lifestyle approaches, so that healing can unfold in a way that is both medically sound and deeply human. In the same spirit Dr. René de Monchy extends the team as specialist.
Dr Richard E. Drexel
General Practitioner & Anthroposophic Doctor
Dr Richard Drexel is a general practitioner and anthroposophical doctor at the Sophia Healing Centre, based at the Weleda New Zealand site in Havelock North. He also works as a GP at The Doctors Greenmeadows in Napier, where he brings a whole-person approach into everyday general practice.
Originally from Germany, Richard studied medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke and the University of Hamburg, where he was introduced to a view of health that unites rigorous medical science with a deeper understanding of the human being. For four years Richard worked in rural Ghana/West Africa and together with three Colleagues for 18 years in private practice in Hamburg. He went on to train in Curative Eurythmy, Homoeopathy, Chirotherapy, Manual Therapy for children and infants, Osteopathy, Acupuncture, Neural Therapy, Psychotherapy in family medicine, Api-therapy, Complementary Cancer Care and has been active for many years in Anthroposophical Medicine and adult education in Europe and now Aotearoa New Zealand.
Richard’s consultations are calm, spacious and collaborative. He takes time to understand the story behind symptoms, and to work with patients on treatment paths that may include conventional medicine, anthroposophical remedies, movement and rhythm, and practical lifestyle changes. Alongside his clinical work, he contributes to trainings and conferences on resilience, mental health, community, embryology and many other topics, supporting people to meet the challenges of modern life with warmth and clarity.
Dr Helen Proctor
General Practitioner | Anthroposophical Medicine | Women’s Health | Homeopathy | Musculoskeletal & Curative Eurythmy Therapy
Helen Proctor is a New Zealand–born General Practitioner, who offers a truly integrative approach to health care. Her work bridges modern evidence-based medicine with anthroposophical and therapeutic modalities, supporting each person as a whole — physically, emotionally, and spiritually. With a calm, attentive presence and unhurried consultations, Helen is known for listening deeply and tailoring treatment to the individual. She has particular experience in women’s health, family medicine, and the care of chronic and complex conditions.
Education & Medical Training - Helen studied medicine at the University of Witten/Herdecke in Germany, where she undertook extensive training in anthroposophical medicine alongside her medical degree. She devoted six months exclusively to this field before continuing it parallel to her studies. She worked for three years in the anthroposophical department of the Asklepios Hospital Hamburg within an internal medicine setting, treating patients with oncological, gastroenterological, autoimmune, rheumatological and acute medical conditions. Here she practised anthroposophical medicine alongside conventional hospital care. Helen subsequently completed five years of postgraduate GP training in Hamburg, including 18 months in an anthroposophical general practice.
Therapeutic Qualifications - Homeopathy – 3 years postgraduate training, Musculoskeletal therapy – 3 years postgraduate training, The Art of Curative Eurythmy therapy – 7 years training
Professional Experience - Helen founded and ran her own private therapeutic clinic in Hamburg for 12 years, working collaboratively with anthroposophically trained therapists in a multidisciplinary setting. Since returning home to New Zealand in 2018 with her family, she has continued serving her community. She is a founding member of the Sophia Healing Centre in Havelock North and works there part time, alongside her part-time role at The Doctors Greenmeadows in Napier. She also serves as GP for the Hohepa Homes community and contributes to weekend urgent care services.
Helen’s Approach to Care - Helen’s practice is grounded in the belief that healing begins with truly seeing the person behind the symptoms. Her consultations are thoughtful and comprehensive, integrating conventional general practice with anthroposophical medicine and therapeutic approaches. Treatment options may include medical care, anthroposophical remedies, homeopathy, musculoskeletal therapy, curative eurythmy, and art-based therapeutic processes. She supports patients of all ages and welcomes those seeking a deeper, more holistic approach to their health.
Dr Rob Maunsell
General Practitioner & Anthroposophic Doctor
Dr Rob Maunsell is a general practitioner and anthroposophical doctor at Sophia Healing Centre in Havelock North. He also works with patients in the wider Wellington region, offering integrative care that draws on many decades of medical practice.
Rob has been a GP since the mid-1970s. Early in his career he began to deepen his work through anthroposophical medicine, undertaking extended clinical training in Germany and the UK, including time at Klinik Öschelbronn, Park Attwood Clinic and in Camphill communities. On returning to Aotearoa, he developed a long-standing general practice in Hawke’s Bay, gradually shaping his work around both conventional care and anthroposophical therapies.
Today, Rob’s practice allows time for unhurried, in-depth consultations. He works with patients to explore the deeper causes of illness, and to find appropriate treatments ranging from standard medical interventions to “living medicines”, psychotherapeutic and artistically based therapies, and practical changes in lifestyle. A musician as well as a doctor, he values creativity, connection and joy as essential elements of a truly healthy life, and brings that understanding into his work with individuals and communities
Dr René de Monchy
Consultant psychiatrist
From April 2026 Dr René de Monchy will be working part-time (initially two days per month) as a visiting consultant psychiatrist at the Sophia Healing Centre. René is a fully qualified and registered medical practitioner (MD(Neth), MCNZ 8986) since 1975, and specialist psychiatrist (FRANCP / Psychotherapy) since 2007. He is currently working as a consultant psychiatrist in general psychiatry, both in public community mental health care, and in private practice. His interest in serving our fellow human beings has always been his focus, since at age 12 he realized that his wish, and almost certainty, was to become a medical doctor eventually.
René had always had a holistic view of the human being, partially from his (Dutch) European upbringing and culture, and from his continental medical studies, in which science, philosophy, art and spiritual awareness were all considered to be pillars of the Spirit of Medicine. In the mid 1970s, as a doctor with his young family, René emigrated to New Zealand and lived and practiced for 10 years as a GP in Napier (starting the Greenmeadows medical practice). It was in Hawkes Bay that he encountered, and became involved in, Anthroposophy and focusing on holistic (anthroposophical) medicine. As part of his involvement in Waldorf education, he became the ‘school-doctor’ of both Hastings and Wellington Steiner schools, where also his own children attended.
From age 50 René lived and worked for four years in rural Africa, after which he trained to become a psychiatrist and Fellow of the Royal Australian and NZ College of Psychiatrists. For him Psychiatry is (or should be) the art and science to help our fellow human being, whose biography has come to an existential crisis, or crossroads in their life, manifesting in various symptoms of post-traumatic stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar challenge, psycho- somatic (deeper underlying issues manifesting in physical illness) or psychosis, or other forms of mental-emotional suffering.
René endeavours to approach each patient as a unique individual, with a unique purpose and destiny in life, and to assist the patient with the heart-forces, as well as the skills expected of a caring medical doctor. Thereto he combines aspects of ‘conventional’ and complementary / anthroposophical and other modalities of medicine, into an integrative medical practice.
When and where will René be available?
I will be working in person at the Sophia Healing Centre for face-to-face consultations and/or telehealth consultations in principle on the first Thursdays and Fridays of each month (apart from September 2026). Appointments can be booked online. Due to my employment duties in public mental health in Bay of Plenty, I will not be available outside those days.
What can René offer?
I provide professional and specialist general, adult psychiatry, from around age 17-18, psychotherapy, mentoring, and supervision from a holistic and integrative diagnostic and therapeutic viewpoint.
What can René not offer?
acute psychiatric services, as I will only be once a month able to consult in person. For acute mental health issues patients would need to contact either their GP or the Crisis team of the local/regional mental health services at the place where they reside.
primary Autism and/or ADHD diagnosis and treatments, for which other avenues are open.
primary alcohol and other substance dependence care in acute psychiatric mental health crises and/or requiring acute risk assessments because of serious and imminent risk issues (see under 1), otherwise I can offer my services.
Consultations and base fee structure (* variations may apply)
Complete First consultation (90 minutes) $475 +GST
Follow up consultation (60 minutes) $300 +GST
Regular Psychotherapy, Supervision, Mentoring $200 +GST
Client Reviews
“Thoughtful, unhurried hour long appointments helped me understand my illness differently. Treatment felt collaborative, respectful and practical, supporting change in everyday life. ”
— Anathi W“Our whole family sees the doctors here. We love the blend of conventional care with anthroposophic insight; My teenagers feel listened to and cared for, and as a result safe and confident.”
— Emma H“Living with my rare autoimmune condition felt hopeless in NZ. Having a German-informed integrative approach offered explanations, nuanced treatment options and genuine hope for long-term stability.”
— Catherine H