Nicky Friedland

Nicky qualified as a medical doctor in South Africa in 1998 and worked across several medical specialties before moving to Scotland in 2001. She has worked as a Psychiatrist within the NHS since then, and since 2006 has specialised in child and adolescent mental health, including extensive experience supporting young people with eating disorders. She has also completed two years of training in Family/Systemic Therapy.

Having been interested in complementary therapies and holistic wellbeing from a young age, Nicky discovered Craniosacral Therapy in 2005 during her own treatment. She found it offered a profound way of accessing the body as a whole and supporting its natural capacity to heal. Inspired by this, she completed her two-year training at the Karuna Institute in Devon in 2008 under Franklyn Sills, a key figure in the development of Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy. She has been practising since 2008 and has worked at Active Health since the clinic opened in 2012.

Nicky enjoys working with clients of all ages and brings warmth, presence, and deep listening to her sessions. Her aim is to support clients in finding greater ease, resilience, and wellbeing in their lives. She continues to expand her skills through postgraduate Craniosacral training, including specialist courses in working with babies and children, and is an active member of an Edinburgh peer group for Craniosacral Therapists.

Although Nicky trained as a medical doctor, Craniosacral Therapy is not used by her for medical diagnosis. Instead, she offers it as a gentle, supportive therapy that may help people feel calmer, more energised, and better able to manage physical or emotional challenges. Her background in medicine and psychiatry gives her a strong understanding of anatomy, physiology, and psychological processes, enriching her holistic approach. She has also practised Chi Gung and meditation for many years.

Craniosacral Therapy is perhaps less well-known than other complementary therapies, although many people are familiar with its use in supporting babies following difficult births. During her early medical career, Nicky worked in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, including time in a rural South African hospital where she performed Caesarean sections, assisted at many births, and provided antenatal care. This experience gives her valuable insight into the birth process and how it may affect newborns.

Nicky has lived in Edinburgh since 2001 and enjoys a healthy lifestyle. She loves walking, yoga, music, culture, and good food, and appreciates Edinburgh’s gentle, green environment as a supportive place to practise Craniosacral Therapy. When she can, she enjoys holidays by sunny beaches and swimming in the sea.