Hi, I’m Irene
I’m a holistic life coach, writer and the author of A Healing Map. I help overwhelmed, purpose-driven people regain clarity, strength and balance, through an integrative approach rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM).
I work with people navigating burnout, anxiety and major life transitions, online and in person.
With over 20 years of experience, Traditional Chinese Medicine has remained the central framework informing my work. Alongside my coaching and writing, I teach and train others in my method, sharing the principles and tools that underpin this holistic approach. If you are a coach, therapist, healer, or seeker who feels called to deepen your understanding of holistic health, this may be for you.
My story
I grew up around the European institutions and followed what felt like the natural path: I studied International Relations (BA, University of Sussex) and law (MA, SOAS), then worked in international human rights. I valued those years, but I wasn’t thriving. The workload eventually led to burnout.
That became my turning point. I discovered Shiatsu, trained professionally, and realised my life’s work lay in the healing arts. Twenty years on, TCM is still the foundation of everything I do.
Because I’ve made a major career change myself, I know how it feels to be unsure, and how to find steady ground while things change. My book A Healing Map tells the full story.
How I work
Everything I do is informed by TCM. I take into account:
- your physical symptoms and constitution
- your emotional patterns and stress responses
- your lifestyle, rhythms and demands
- your life context and current transitions
I combine systemic coaching, EFT tapping, TCM-based lifestyle and dietary guidance, and the healing touch of Shiatsu. The aim is to restore balance in the whole system, not to treat isolated symptoms. I see burnout and crisis as meaningful signals inviting change, not problems to eliminate.
Learn more about working with me
My path
Background
- BA International Relations, University of Sussex; MA International and Comparative Legal Studies, SOAS
- Advocacy in the international human rights sector (India, Peru, Germany, Belgium, UK)
- Three-year Shiatsu training and Macrobiotic Life Counselling
- Systemic Life Coaching, certified by the European Coaching Association
- EFT and stress reduction coach, European Commission
- Vice President, European Shiatsu Federation
Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch
At a glance
2002 – BA International Relations and Spanish, University of Sussex, UK
2005 – MA International and Comparative Legal Studies, SOAS, UK
2000–2007 – Advocacy in the international human rights sector (India, Peru, Germany, Belgium, UK)
2006 – Completion of three-year Shiatsu training, Devon, UK
2007–2011 – Macrobiotic Life Counselling, East West Centre, Belgium
2007–2011 – Shiatsu & EFT practitioner and teacher, Brussels
2011 – Burnout prevention training, European Commission, Brussels
2012 – Work-study in eco-villages (Canada, USA, Europe)
2012 – Deep Ecology training (The Work That Reconnects) with Joanna Macy, USA
2012–2013 – Systemic Life Coaching training, Berlin (certified by the European Coaching Association)
2015–2017 – Health conferences and burnout prevention, European Commission
- 2021–2023 – EFT and stress reduction coach, European Commission
2015–2026 – European Representative, Belgian Shiatsu Federation
2016–2026 – Vice President, European Shiatsu Federation
Ongoing – Health and Life Coach, speaker, and practitioner (coaching, EFT, Shiatsu), working locally and internationally online
Here are some commonly asked questions about my work:
How are you different from other coaches and therapists?
We start by finding out what you need most, then decide together which approach helps best. You can relax with a Shiatsu session, gain clarity through coaching, let go of overwhelming emotions with EFT tapping, or explore relationships with a colleague, family member or part of yourself through a systemic constellation. Coaching differs from therapy because you set the agenda.
Why and when might I need a holistic life coach?
Life gets complex and messy, and a crisis can feel lonely. With twenty years of experience helping people through anxiety, crisis and overwhelm, I can offer an outside perspective that brings clarity, insight and calm, so you can feel steady about your next steps.
How many sessions do I need? Do I have to book several at once?
No. Coaching is client-led, so you set the pace. Book an initial session, see if it works for you, and then decide how often to continue.
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