About The School

Bridging Visionary Insights & Practical Methodology

To transform how we heal, work, and create.

STANFORD-DEVELOPED

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PRACTITIONER-TESTED

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HEALING-CENTERED

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STANFORD-DEVELOPED ✦ PRACTITIONER-TESTED ✦ HEALING-CENTERED ✦

The School of Psychedelic Design bridges visionary insights with practical methodology to transform how we heal, work, and create. We exist to cultivate conscious creators who intentionally shape experiences for healing and transformation.

What began as experimental “taboo” content at Stanford University’s Design School— the “d.school” — has evolved into pioneering methodology now being applied by practitioners, researchers, and organizations worldwide. Our frameworks bridge the gap between expanded consciousness and grounded, compassionate action.

We believe that every healing experience should be consciously designed rather than accidentally harmful. We’re building the foundational knowledge this emerging field needs.

Elysa Fenenbock speaking at SXSW 2024, seated in a white chair holding a microphone while wearing a green floral dress and pink strappy sandals.
Group of people participating in a team activity in a room with large screens displaying instructions about curation, with printed photographs on the floor for sorting or matching.
Collection of circular button pins featuring animal oracle card designs with words like 'Bold,' 'Nurturing,' and 'Intelligent' from The School of Psychedelic Design class project.
Professional headshot of Elysa Fenenbock, Founder of The School of Psychedelic Design, a woman with wavy brown hair and a warm smile in natural lighting.

Elysa Fenenbock

Founder & Creator of Psychedelic Design Methodology

A World-Class Designer & Educator

Elysa brings 15+ years of design strategy mastery to psychedelic medicine:

At IDEO, she led education transformation projects, helping nation-wide school districts and teacher redesign student learning experiences through human-centered design methodology.

At Google, she designed global programs reaching 2,000+ participants, creating innovation sprints across international locations and transformational leadership experiences that became company-wide blueprints.

At Stanford, she has taught design thinking for over a decade, guiding thousands through creative problem-solving across industries.

“In the psychedelic and healing spaces Elysa is both grounded and wildly generative. She balances depth and intention with play and whimsy. She uses systems thinking and ritual design to create rigorous courses that span these emerging disciplines.”
— Carissa Carter, Academic Director, Stanford d.school

The Personal Journey That Sparked a Mission

Elysa’s path to psychedelic design began with a life-changing but traumatically designed ketamine treatment. Lying on a cold metal bed with crinkly paper underneath, pulse ox beeping, and a doctor offering TV during her session, she experienced both the profound healing potential of the medicine and the harm caused by unconscious design decisions during vulnerable moments.

As someone whose life was saved by psychedelic medicine, she knew she couldn’t let others endure such dehumanizing “care.” That experience revealed an urgent gap: practitioners needed structured approaches to creating intentional healing experiences.

Join the community

Mariavittoria Mangini, PhD, FNP, Women's Visionary Council

“Your approach is both so foreign and kind of delectable to me. It’s really stimulating to take that kind of design position, one that mandates action as opposed to just jawing about stuff. It feels like there’s a new opening for the kinds of things I'm interested in.”

Stephanie McClellan, Google, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

“It is hard to pinpoint just one reason why Elysa is so remarkable, but if I had to choose, I’d say it’s because she is unbound. The space in her brain for ideation, creativity, innovation, playfulness, etc., has no boundaries. […] I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Elysa because I got to see her work and process up close, and also because I know there is now a part of my brain that is unbound, too, thanks to her influence.”

Dr. David Yaden, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

“I’m excited to be here because we really need your help. There are a lot of design problems in psychedelic research generally.”

Stanford Course Student

“It’s been powerful seeing where my cohort and I can be held accountable. When thinking of how experiences are delivered in the world. These compounds are part of systems just like the rest of health care. There are power dynamics and trust that needs to be considered.”

Purpose Event Participant

“To be with others who are experiencing the same feelings and hopes. It was very affirming to see how many others were not trying to do BIG THINGS rather just find a way to share their gifts to serve in the world. It allowed me time to reflect and sort through confusion in my mind. It also provides inspiration and motivation to revitalize my passion and purpose.”

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Traditional design thinking is human-centered and business-focused. Psychedelic design is life-centered and healing-focused—specifically designed for vulnerable states when people are most open and most at risk. We integrate both analytical thinking and intuitive wisdom, considering impacts on all living systems, not just humans.

  • No design background required. These frameworks unlock creative problem-solving abilities you already possess. Whether you're analytically minded, scientifically trained, or completely new to design thinking, the methodology provides structure for both creativity and practical implementation.

  • While developed specifically for psychedelic contexts, practitioners report the frameworks transfer beautifully to other healing modalities, therapy practices, wellness programs, and even business contexts where transformation is the goal.

  • Absolutely. The frameworks apply equally to research environments. Many principles translate directly—from participant preparation to study design to creating research environments that support rather than stress participants. Several Stanford students are working on trial design projects using these methods.

  • Perfect! Having many tools in your toolkit will help you differentiate yourself and serve clients at a higher level. Whether your goal is to shift toward more psychedelic work or maintain your current balance, these frameworks enhance any healing practice.

  • The methodology is specifically designed to work within existing legal and regulatory frameworks. We focus on optimizing patient experience and healing environments within whatever constraints you're operating under—whether that's FDA trial protocols, state regulations, or institutional policies.

  • Many practitioners see immediate improvements from small changes—redesigning a welcome process, intake form, or physical space setup. Larger systematic changes typically show measurable results within 3-6 months of implementation.

  • Our main course involves twice-weekly sessions (60-90 minutes each) plus optional assignments (2-4 hours weekly). Total time commitment is approximately 4-5 hours per week for the duration of the course.

  • We structure our pricing to make the methodology accessible while supporting sustainable program development. Specific payment options vary by course—details are provided during enrollment.

  • Before setting schedules, we poll each cohort to find optimal times. Sessions are recorded and made available with notes and resources. However, we prioritize live participation for the collaborative learning experience.

Join the Community Designing the Future of Healing

Get the methodology insights, case studies, and early course access that practitioners worldwide are using to create better healing experiences.