MEET: Dr. Joseph Palacios, Chief Higher Calling Coach & Consultant
For over 30 years I have practiced the philosophy of "care of the whole person" focusing on the integration of a person's values, skills, spirituality, personal vision, and work goals. I have applied this philosophy to my work as a leadership coach, mentor, consultant, professor, and organizational sociologist. If you need someone to help you with the integration of career and professional goals, community service, and personal life, then I can help you initiate a coaching process that moves you to setting achievable goals to get to your higher callings in life through sensible coaching.
I specialize in assisting people in personal and career transition, as well as navigating company "transformations" such as layoffs, restructuring, and retirements. I also help in addressing issues of stress, negative habits, family, and relationships affecting work and achieving goals.
My primary experience in coaching and mentoring over the past 30 years has been as a Professor of Sociology (Ph.D. UC Berkeley) at UC Berkeley, Georgetown University, and the University of Southern California. As a sociologist specializing in the study of organizations, I developed courses with organizational leaders to develop collaborative research projects that required students to do engaged research in Washington, DC, Santiago, Chile, and Los Angeles. In turn I took on the role of coach for managers and students to develop their personal and organizational goals in line with this research and service. In Washington, DC, I developed three non-profit organizations focusing on social services, advocacy, and socio-cultural change. I have served on the Board of Directors of several U.S. and international non-profit/NGO organizations.
My strength has been helping organizational leaders vision and implement their mission, practical goals, and strategic planning. Prior to my academic career I worked in human resources with a focus on work force analysis and affirmative action personnel development at two San Francisco companies. At Castle & Cooke (The Dole Company) I was the Corporate Affirmative Action Manager where I coached minority and female employees in their career development in order to fulfill company and legal diversity targets. Following my corporate career I decided to enter theological studies for ordination to the Catholic priesthood and have served as a priest in parishes in California, DC, and Mexico. With both my sociological training and non-profit and corporate experience I have helped parishes develop lay leaders and establish community outreach and social change advocacy programs.
MEET: John McAndrew, M.A., M.Div. Chief Higher Calling Consultant
John McAndrew, MA, MDiv, is a spiritual teacher, counselor, theologian, musician, hospice chaplain and poet. With a background in literature, theology, music, and counseling, he served as a parish priest for nearly 20 years, and has also worked in educational settings, corporate consultancies, detention facilities, and treatment centers. During his tenure as Director of Spiritual Care at the Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage, CA, he began to incorporate all these experiences into foundations which took shape in Sensible Spirituality Associates — a consultancy created with Joseph Palacios. John currently resides in Arroyo Grande (San Luis Obispo County), CA and recently retired from full-time Spiritual Counseling for Wilshire Hospice. He continues to facilitate Retreats and Workshops for people in recovery, and offers Spiritual Counseling, Grief Counseling, and Recovery Support services for individuals and organizations seeking deeper spiritual development.
John is a skilled meeting organizer and has helped non-profit and religious organizations in designing and implementing leadership and membership meetings. With his creative skills he provides high energy team building dynamics to help organizations move toward their mission, objectives, and vision.
"Let us go from strength to strength! For it is to be hoped that the one who begins to serve God will not grow weary, but advance more and more each day." Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Testimonials
"I have had the pleasure of working with Joseph as my coach for the past 20 years. He is simply outstanding. During these two decades, he has helped me make the transition from a student struggling to find my own voice to an executive leading people at a top global company. What makes Joseph exceptional is his unwavering commitment to getting to know his clients on a deeply personal level. His coaching approach is grounded in the Ignatian tradition of cura personalis, or care for the whole person. He recognizes that our personal and professional lives are complexly intertwined, and he helps clients navigate both spheres to gain clarity and purpose. Using Socratic questioning, Joseph guides you to identify your passions and rank their priority. He then helps you create actionable plans to achieve them. His approach is gentle but effective, providing you with the support and guidance you need to achieve your objectives. In summary, I highly recommend Joseph as a thoughtful, caring, and effective coach. He has helped me achieve significant personal and professional growth, and I am confident that he can do the same for you."
“It’s such a pleasure and honor of having Dr. Palacios as my coach in the past 6 months. he’s a distinguished academic scholar, a religious leader and wise philosopher who also lived the corporate world. As you can imagine he has a lot to offer as a coach. I clicked with Joseph (as he prefers to be called) right from our very first session: he has such a nice personality who make you feel you are talking to a friend that you trust, with whom you can share whatever you are going through. He’s a attentive listener who always seeks to understand the context and bigger picture before offering his perspective and guidance. His coaching has been tremendously helpful.”
"Joseph brings a rare combination of heart and intellect to every situation in which he has worked. This thoughtful open-heartedness has guided him as an academic, a minister, a trustworthy companion and now as a Coach. He is always able to provide mature insight which enables individuals to find the right questions and tap into their own perhaps unsuspected inner resources. I have benefited from Joseph’s assessments and reflections and would recommend him to anyone who is sincerely seeking a fuller life."
"Dr. Palacios and I first met at the University of Southern California in October 2017. Dr. Palacios provides support to anyonr who is looking for help to persevere in life. As a 55 year old man, compared to my younger peers, I am able to better recognize those individuals who have the unique ability to provide assistance to those in need of guidance in a multitude of areas. Dr. Palacios is the epitome of coaching guidance. If you are looking for a person with an open mind, and with life and academic experiences, look no further than Dr. Joseph Palacios. I would never have been as successful as I am, were it not for Dr. Palacios’ support and encouragement, and his belief in my ability to be successful. Due in part to his ongoing coaching and support, I will soon be defending my doctoral dissertation degree at the University of Southern California."