My approach and who I am
I support overwhelmed, purpose-driven people in regaining strength, clarity, and balance through a holistic, integrative approach that is fundamentally informed by Traditional Chinese Medicine.
My work is grounded in the understanding that physical health, emotional wellbeing, and the way we live our lives are deeply interconnected. Healing, in my experience, happens most effectively when all these dimensions are seen, assessed, and addressed together.
If you are navigating burnout, anxiety, or a significant life transition, my role is to help you find steady ground and identify meaningful next steps—steps that are aligned with your body, your emotional landscape, and the realities of your daily life.
For over 20 years, I have supported people experiencing emotional overwhelm, stress, and burnout. Throughout this time, Traditional Chinese Medicine has remained the central framework informing my work. Its holistic view of health—seeing symptoms not in isolation but as expressions of imbalance within the whole system—shapes how I listen, assess, and support each client.
Before dedicating my life to the healing arts, I worked as an international human rights advocate in the UK, Peru, and India. Eventually, the intensity of this work led me to experience burnout myself. Navigating this period profoundly reshaped my understanding of health, resilience, and purpose. This lived experience allows me to meet clients with genuine empathy and a deep respect for the complexity of emotional and physical exhaustion.
My professional transition began with in-depth training in Shiatsu and Traditional Chinese Medicine. From there, I continued my studies in EFT (Emotional Freedom Techniques), macrobiotics, and systemic coaching in the UK, Belgium, and Germany. These modalities are not used separately, but are integrated within a Traditional Chinese Medicine-informed approach that considers energy, emotions, lifestyle, and relational context as equally relevant to healing.
Through my own healing journey, I have reassessed long-held beliefs, redefined my priorities, and aligned more fully with my purpose. I now understand burnout—and indeed any life crisis—not as something to overcome or eliminate, but as a meaningful signal: an invitation to restore balance and listen to what is asking to change.
There is nothing I feel more committed to than supporting people through difficult phases of life and helping them work skilfully with their emotions, physical symptoms, and daily habits so they can create a life that is sustainable and meaningful. My work offers a safe, grounded space in which you can pause, regain strength, and develop clarity about your situation.
I am based in Brussels and work internationally, currently offering sessions online.
In addition to individual work, I facilitate workshops across Europe on EFT, Shiatsu, burnout prevention, stress management, and deep ecology.
You can also purchase my book, A Healing Map, which traces my journey from burnout to becoming a holistic life coach, here.
Please note: My work does not constitute medical or psychological treatment. Only a licensed doctor or psychologist can make a diagnosis. For any health concerns or persistent symptoms, please consult a qualified medical professional.
How I work
All my work is informed by the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. This means that 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
Healing is approached as a process of restoring balance within the whole system, rather than treating isolated symptoms.
I integrate systemic coaching, EFT, lifestyle and dietary recommendations rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and the healing touch of Shiatsu. My approach is relational, attuned to both emotional and somatic processes, and guided by careful assessment and intuitive insight.
The tools I use, together with my experience, support you in rebuilding inner strength, cultivating a sense of safety, and reconnecting with your own capacity for regulation and clarity. You can read more about my one-to-one coaching style here.
My path
I grew up in an international environment shaped by the European institutions and initially followed what felt like a natural and expected path: studying politics and law. While I value my years working in international politics and human rights, I was not thriving.
The sustained workload and multiple demands eventually led to burnout. This experience prompted a deep reassessment of my life choices and invited me to realign my priorities with who I truly am.
During this time, I encountered Shiatsu, the ancient Japanese healing practice rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine. I went on to study it professionally and soon recognised that my life’s work lay in the healing arts. Since then, I have continuously studied diverse aspects of human health, always returning to the holistic principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine as my foundation.
I understand what it means to make a profound career change—and how challenging and rewarding that process can be. This transition has given me a deep understanding of how to cultivate safety, resilience, and orientation during times of uncertainty and change.
By aligning with my purpose, I have found the place where I can genuinely contribute and make a difference. I see this reflected in the transformations my clients experience in their lives.
As a practitioner, I combine coaching, EFT, Shiatsu, and lifestyle recommendations based on Traditional Chinese Medicine to address both the emotional and physical dimensions of your current life challenges.
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
Languages: English, German, French, Spanish, and Dutch
Contact
Tel: +32 (0)474 61 29 57
Email: info@irenenolte.com
Here are some commonly asked questions about my work:
How do you differentiate from other coaches and therapists?
To begin with, we establish what your greatest need is and based on that we decide together which of the different approaches I offer can help you best. My approach is holistic- in the sense that it truly addresses body, mind and soul. You can relax with a shiatsu session, gain clarity through coaching, or let go of overwhelming emotions with the EFT tapping technique. We can address relational problems you might have- with a colleague, family member or with aspects of yourself through a systemic constellation. Coaching is different from therapy, because here you set the agenda and say what you need.
Why and when do I need a holistic life coach?
We all get overwhelmed at times, the stuff of life is complex. Sometimes it gets messy and crisis has a way of making us feel lonely. I can help to get an outside perspective on things, from someone who can offer a different and fresh perspective. With twenty years of experience in helping people navigate feelings of anxiety, crisis and overwhelm, I know that what I do can truly help you gain clarity, insight and a sense of calm. You’ll feel steady and have clarity to approach the next steps of your life.
How many sessions do I need, do I have to book several appointments straight away?
Coaching is client led, so you define the pace and the frequency at which we meet. You can book and initial session, see if it works for you and then decide on the frequency with which you’d like to continue.