Kathryn must really not care about her career in this field anymore. I registered for her hypnobirthing class online on April 23rd at 8pm. I paid $100 deposit via PayPal for a class that was scheduled to be held at 630 pm at Austin Born the following Tuesday (April 26th). She didn't show up. There was another couple standing there with us, completely shocked that the instructor wasn't returning our calls or emails. I've left 2 voicemails, several emails and created a dispute for the charge on my PayPal account. NO RESPONSE. I called Austin Born and talked with the owner. Apparently Kathryn called her that Friday to say she wasn't going to teach the class and would be refunding people's money. She still took my money, took my time and has yet to give me just a little bit of human respect by returning my attempts to communicate. Do not go to this person, she doesn't care about pregnant mothers trying to take advanced prenatal classes. She will take your money and good luck trying to get it back. Disgusting. read more

I wish I had read the other reviews before signing up for this course. On August 7 I signed up for this course because I'm planning a no medical interventions birth (first time mom), and Austin Hypnobirthing was on a list of recommended courses at my midwife's office, OBGyn North. I signed up online and paid the $100 to reserve my spot in the course that begins today 9/11/2016. Just a few days ago, on Sep. 7, I got an email from PayPal saying that Katherine manually returned my payment for $100 - with no other explanation. I left her a voicemail and emails inquiring whether the course had been cancelled and received zero response from her. Now in my third trimester, I'm scrambling to find another hypnobirthing course that starts soon so I can complete it before I go into labor. It's pretty shocking how this fell through and with no basic decency to at least send an email if the course was cancelled or overbooked. I went a month thinking I was all set. Reading the other reviews, I suppose it could have been worse - I don't have to fight to get my money back at least. Still I am so disappointed by this, and will be telling OBGyn North about my experience. They should not be recommending this course to their clients because this business is unreliable. read more

I don't often post negative reviews but I found this class on Yelp and feel I should share our experience. There were some positives: We liked the hypnobirthing philosophy, and the course was a decent introduction to it. The instructor has a lot of experience as a doula to draw from. We also met a lot of other couples like us and enjoyed sharing our questions, fears, and knowledge with each other. That said, the instructor was difficult and didn't seem to care very much. There were a few smaller, administrative snafus (difficulty contacting her and confusion about the books) that we were willing to overlook, but a bigger issue that can't really be excused: The instructor had to cancel a class and instead of offering a makeup class, kept trying to cram the material into only 4 sessions which seemed unfair after paying $300 for 5 classes. It took weeks and multiple students requesting a makeup before one was finally discussed in the last class. During the discussion, the instructor exploded in an angry tantrum about how hard she works and how she can't please everyone. This eruption ruined the safe, supportive environment that birthing class should be and left us shocked, confused and uninterested in ever going back. Regarding the instruction, we wished the course had been better organized (some topics repeated, some entirely left out or sped through). Also, the content was mostly information and instructor's personal opinions and not much technique. The core breathing technique of hypnobirthing, for example, was covered in about 10 minutes and wasn't revisited for practice. Overall, while we gained some useful information, we didn't feel like we had learned the technique. read more

I don't normally write yelp reviews but I was compelled to document the experience I had with this service as a warning to others. I would not recommend working with Katherine. Initially, I was so excited to sign up for this class as it was perfect timing (started 3/1/16) for my due date and my sister had highly recommended the Hypnobirthing Curriculum. It was also located in a great space with excellent time and close to my home. So many things felt very right about this class; The materials were very professional, location was in central austin, timing was right date and evening time schedule. We showed up for the first class. From the get go the first half of the class she spoke about herself, very little about Hypnobirthing, and the second half of the class we did group intro's. It was at the end of the first class I found out the class came with a text book which we were asked to read the first 100 pages and do some other assignments. My husband and I were less than impressed with session 1 but decided to go to the next session. She said she would send the book. So I emailed her 4 times that week and left a voicemail once as it was getting nearer to class time and I wasn't able to read the 100 pages. And I never got a response. The day before the class I got an email (cc'ing the other class members in) stating that nights class was cancelled and it blamed her mom for not sending out the books on time. I got the book 3 days after that email. The night of the third session we found out in a email that was sent only hours before class that the session was moved to her house. I called my friend in the class and my friend didn't even know the class location moved. Katherine should have called the class members and at least left messages, instead of sending an email last minute. Because location changed I called Katherine to ask her if she had pets because my husband and I are allergic to cats and dogs. To which she said she did have a dog. So that prohibited me going to class 3. As we were on the phone, I asked her what is the alternative to make up the class. She spent 20 minutes on an emotional tirade about how she was meant to do this job and how passionate she was about being a doula (which was never in question). She said many things in this conversation like she wasn't a business person or a corporation. It seemed like she was in a hard spot personally and she had personal challenges that were spilling into her work, to which I understood. All I wanted to know how to makeup a class that I paid for. Her alternative suggestions were; 1. she offered a refund for the class, 2. came up with Skyping into the session, but then said I wouldn't be happy doing that, 3. offered private tutoring. I said I need to talk to my husband to make a decision. My husband and I decided a refund would be best and to take a different class. I emailed her that after much consideration and talking we would take the refund she offered. She didn't reply to my email. So I called and left 3 voicemails for her to talk about it. As I hadn't heard back from her it was creating more stress as my due date was coming up and I was scrambling to find another class, and I had $300 ear marked for a Hypnobirthing Class. She ended replying in a very unprofessional manner. As a client I was surprised for her to tell me she would have to check her finances to see if she could do it. In another email I even offered to come before the class pick up the check and suggested she could post date it, as it would be easy for her and for me. She then called me a bully and said she won't be bullied by me. Calling a pregnant woman a bully was not only unprofessional but shocking as I offered to pick up a refund that she offered me. As this situation with her lack of business etiquette and customer service was creating high levels of stress, I passed it on to my husband to deal with. After an email he wrote got no response, we decided we may have to escalate it to legal action as she was not only not responsive but not providing the service she is advertising. It was only then when she again responded and said we will get half the money in a refund in the middle of May. Over 2 months to get half a refund to which she never did refund. We got our lawyer more involved and she didn't reply to him. We decided not to pursue it further and give this review. How she treats some of her pregnant clients is shocking considering Hypnobirthing is about relaxation. Her business practices are unprofessional and her teaching was self centered (as I had friends who stayed in that class and ended up taking it anyways even tho they felt the same). We were really disappointed by our experience and by the customer service. I would highly discourage anyone not to work with her stay away. read more

Please stay away from this woman and her classes. An expectant mother should not have to go through the rudeness and hostility that our class experienced. As a couple with a very modest income, we really wish we had not wasted our money on this course. Most of the information covered was basic and introductory, though I like that it helped get us in the mind frame of birth preparation. I also really enjoyed being in a community of expectant mothers. That said, you can gain the preparation easily online or from the books (or another course), and you can seek out other, less negative, environments for mommas-to-be. I don't feel we really learned the hypnobirthing philosophy, and what's worse, we were completely disrespected in the process. When one of the classes was canceled, we were expecting to have it rescheduled. The instructor went on about being in a good place for the curriculum and not needing a fifth class. I didn't say anything since there were still a couple of classes left, but I knew that I wanted the five classes we had paid for. She then said we would have a fifth class (woo!), then went back and said she could get it all in during an extra hour of the fourth class (boo). At this point I chimed in with my thoughts on having (and deserving) a full fifth class; other mothers I had talked to felt the same way. The instructor did not like that I voiced my concern. Her e-mail response was short. Her attitude during the following class was hostile, rude, and completely unprofessional. I felt attacked and could sense her negativity the whole class. She even put us on the spot for a very stressful, hypothetical birth scenario regarding interventions. What?! I thought that the course was to learn relaxation, breathing, and visualizations of hypnobirthing? As she rolled her eyes and looked annoyed about rescheduling at the end of class, she totally lost it and went on, angrily, about not being a corporation, not being able to handle the demands of kids, clients, etc. She silenced me when I tried to address my concern for how upset she seemed. Another mother even said "Umm, we're not angry with you. We just want a fifth class." It was uncalled for, all we wanted was a class rescheduled. I left feeling shocked, hurt, and disrespected. Another mother asked to call me since she was also left a little traumatized by this woman. Although the instructor may be going through some difficult times, it is never an excuse to be so mean, unprofessional, and act so hateful towards another individual, especially an expectant mother! I let the group know in a short e-mail that I wasn't going to attend the last class so as not to put myself or the baby in such a negative environment. She emailed me in a very rude, passive aggressive tone. I responded that she had no right to treat us the way she did and that I hope she finds her path again. If she is not in a good place to teach this course, she really should not be teaching it. Please do yourself a favor and find another birth preparation class, we really wish we had. I don't usually write these, but I felt the need to, so that other mommas don't experience what we experienced. Take care of yourselves and surround yourselves with love and light...not this course and instructor. read more

I highly recommend Katherine as a hypnobirthing instructor. Long before I ever became pregnant I knew I wanted to take Katherine's hypnobirthing class, not even because I even understood anything about hypnobirthing, but because I attended her crossfit classes and she helped train me through my 2nd triathlon and marathon. She's an all around incredible person, inspiration and on that thought alone-- on her down to earth spirit and constant search for knowledge in her field-- when I did become pregnant she was the only one who I wanted to teach me how to birth my baby. I just jived with her! My husband and I finished her class this afternoon and true to my initial thought, it was as amazing as I had hoped. I wanted to have a natural birth and through her classes (even though we're having it at the birthing center) we learned how to change our perspective on fear, how to breathe through the pain and the tools we need to get this baby girl out withOUT interventions! My husband wasn't too keen on going to these birthing classes initially but by the end was happy we went with Katherine and we both learned so much. I have come away with the knowledge that my body WAS made to do this! Thanks so much Katherine for empowering women and being a source of encouragement and hope! read more

Agree with Michelle K. I found the class disorganized and left me wondering what I had spent $300 on. There was a "syllabus" but not followed at all - important info glossed over, some skipped entirely, which made the course hard to follow. Homework was supposed to be assigned 4 days before class, but wasn't until late afternoon the day before (hardly enough time to properly prepare). Biggest complaint was that the "hypnobirthing" techniques aren't even practiced in class for the most part (and only briefly discussed). Even then we were told repeatedly that there is no "real hypnobirthing technique" and "no right or wrong way to do it." So, what did I pay to learn?? Essentially, there are breathing and relaxation techniques, but these (and everything else) you could learn from the book "Hypnobirthing - The Mongon Method." The class is more of a general childbirth education class. Regarding the scheduling, the classes are held even on holidays(?!), and if you have to make up a class, it's $40. Or you can opt for a rushed, condensed version just before the next class. Also, the instructor has a very nervous Chihuahua that barks at every movement (and the behavior is allowed). It was distracting and nerve-wracking and did not create a relaxing atmosphere at all. Hindsight is 20/20 (that's what Yelp is for!) and had I known all this I would have just done the home study course for $25. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UZLD1LE/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B00UZLD1LE&linkCode=as2&tag=hypnobiresour-20&linkId=S74HO4ERFVXLTSSB *After googling that I see that there are 8 hypnobirthing MP3 tracks in the home study course...we were given ONE (Rainbow Relaxation)!! read more

Katherine's classes were extremely helpful, thoughtful and well-organized. We got exactly what we wanted from the sessions. I gained much more confidence, knowledge, and agency going in to the birth of my son. The classes are also a great way to meet new parents. read more

We took this class for baby number two. We knew that we were too busy to put in the time we had with number one without someone to keep us on track. Kat took a personal interest in us, our baby, and our birth right from the minute we walked in the door. Each class began with a check in to see how we were doing. This set up a great community right off the bat. We are still friends with a few of the couples. The material was tailored to the needs of the class and extremely helpful even for second time parents. Kat's knowledge of all the material was amazing and so helpful. We felt so supported even after the class finished. This course is so worth the time. read more

This is a complete scam and this woman has stolen $450 from us. My wife and I took a class with Katherine in 2011 for our first birth and she was great, no issues. In 2016, we signed up for her class and made full payment of the $450 in advance. When the time for the class came around, Katherine dropped off the face of the earth and would not respond to emails or phone calls. Now I can't recover the $450 I paid her and I am considering reporting her for theft. I am just in disbelief that someone would be have such little regard for the time and money of others - particularly expectant parents. There is a lot of negative energy that has come into our lives on account of Katherine's behavior. Stay as far away from her as you can! read more

I wish I could give Katherine Grosshaupt zero stars. I live in New York City and heard about hypnobirthing through my OBGYN when I asked about methods to have a natural, unmedicated birth. I was lucky to find an AWESOME hypnobirthing class and instructor in Brooklyn. And because of this great experience, I recommended hypnobirthing to my sister who lives in Austin, TX. We were blessed to be pregnant at the same time and due within a month of each other. Since she was due before me, we got recommendations from my instructor and she chose Katherine in the spring of 2016 with a lot of confidence that she would also have a great experience. I'm completely shredded with guilt that my hand ever led her to this business, because it was the worst disaster of customer service I have ever witnessed. It introduced a level of stress and angst that was very dangerous for my sister, who had been having extreme difficulty getting pregnant for many years before she carried this sweet little baby to full term. She and her husband attended the first class and told me that the instructor spent most of the class talking about herself and the unfortunate circumstances she had been going through. She also neglected to get the book for the students (included and very necessary) and was very disorganized. I encouraged her to stick with it, even though she was in her third trimester and didn't have much time to practice the method before her due date. I was floored to hear that the instructor changed the location of their SECOND class to a home with animals, to which my sister has severe allergies (hospital level allergic reactions and asthma). And when my sister talked to her about it, the instructor offered a full refund of $300, an offer she did NOT HONOR when my sister requested it. It got more and more awful as my sister's due date approached. There was no time to start a new class and the instructor would not refund her for that class. Moreover, the instructor also didn't respond to candid conversation or legal action. She is terribly unprofessional and from what I can tell, an awful person - putting a pregnant woman who trusted her, in such a dangerous position. I'm writing this review to encourage you to do your research on this business before you give her your money. The purpose of hypnobirthing is to ALLEVIATE stress, NOT create stress. I'm so grateful the baby is strong and my sister gave birth with minimal issue. She did need medication and a surgical procedure and I'm convinced it's due to the negligence of teaching by this hypnobirthing instructor. Do not consider this business as an option. What a terrible thing to witness as a family member and someone who loves the hypnobirthing techniques and used them successfully. read more

I hope someone out there can respond to this and help me! I contacted Katherine in August for private sessions, she penciled me in until she received a deposit, WE PAID IN FULL, she wrote back to confirm and sent a questionnaire, I turned in the questionnaire the day before our meeting and asked for a confirmation of our session...then WE NEVER HEARD FROM HER!!! I would hate to say this is a scam, from the website and testimonies it doesn't look like one, BUT we have emailed and called several times to request a refund and she has yet to respond, she has disappeared with our money. I hope everything is okay and she is in good health and that this issue is resolved soon!!!! read more

Katherine is an amazing teacher! I always leave her class feeling worlds better than I did when I arrived. She has totally changed my view on so many "scary" birthing situations. I am no longer frightened of giving birth. That is a gift with a much higher value than the little I paid for her class. read more

Does anyone know the address to the class? I paid a $100 deposit for the class and never got any info on the address. I cannot find it posted anywhere on the website. Class starts tomorrow, but without an address it looks like Katherine gets to steal money from me. I already sent emails and left voicemails for weeks and I never get a response. read more

Going to this Hypnobirthing class was the best thing I could have done for myself, my honey and our baby. I really enjoyed Kat, she was easy to talk to and I appreciated that she made us each folders with information, such as the affirmation and areas we could list our needs from books to read to what to bring to the hospital. I took the class as a guide and that we as a couple, and as parents can use this guide to give our baby the most calm, natural birth possible. This was my first child and as he grew in me I wanted only to provide him with the best I could from my food intake to my energy I felt inside. I concentrated very hard to never feel overwhelmed by anger, worry, being scared or stressed...I knew he could feel that. I found this by accident and read what the classes offered and asked my honey if we could go to them together. Right away he was in and it was so much fun being there with him by my side. I will admit, once I was actually in labor dilated to only 6 my practices went out the window but I truly feel that it was my subconscious that took control. I knew I wanted my baby to have a natural birth if my body allowed it. And I followed the affirmations till the moment I gave birth. This was "my body" and "my baby was the perfect size" and I asked my body to please give a natural birth even when I was about to have the nurse call the doctor to break my water it happened on it's own! I feel that if you believe in yourself and what you want to do you CAN DO IT! I surprised myself and after 36 hours in labor I had my baby Max completely natural and my recovery was so quick I didn't know what was normal or not but my nurses and doctor couldn't believe I was walking as soon as I was. One of the biggest things I think I took from the class was that you need to not take in what others say about their birth. As a woman YOUR baby is in YOUR body and this is YOUR story not anyone else. It doesn't matter what your Mother told you about your birth or your brother/sisters birth....it doesn't matter what the woman at work tells you its how YOU feel and how YOU take care of yourself. I don't ever want to be one of those woman who tells you "what you need to do" or "should do" while your pregnant BUT I have to say if you have beliefs in energy, beliefs in auras if you will....Hypnobirthing was such a great learning experience I feel as though it is beneficial. All I'm saying really is that if we hadn't taken the steps to even go to the classes I don't think I would have had all the encouragement and confidence I had to give my baby what he deserved during his birth into this World. read more

Kat is awesome! I really am so glad my husband and I decided to take this class series. We had already taken a birth prep class through our doula and I wasn't sure if it was necessary to take another but was interested in hypnobirthing. I contacted Kat initially to go over my thoughts and to see if I felt it would be worth doing. She was very easy to talk to and very relaxed and talked to me about what we would learn in the class, etc. I decided to sign up and really am so glad I did. It was a wonderful experience! It was great to get together in a series over a 5 week period and really dedicate each session to not only hypnobirthing methodology (relaxation and meditation techniques), but learning more about the birth process and getting to discuss with others. Was a really great experience! I highly recommend this class for anyone that is wanting a natural birth, and even for people who aren't sure. Lots of great info and helpful discussion! read more

This class and materials given by Kat provided some of the most impactful information my husband and I received during my pregnancy. Kat provides tools to help both you and your partner prepare for the birth that YOU want to experience. The course is informative and practical, as Kat makes sure to include several options - focusing on the fact that there is no ONE right method/way. Yes, you'll learn to put the hypnobirthing techniques into practice but equally impactful is the information provided about the birth process in general. The more you know the less fear is present at your birth! Another great aspect of this program is the exposure to variety that the class environment provided - we had couples who were having their 1st baby, some having their 4th, some having home birth, some having hospital births, etc. It was a great place for gaining perspective and educating you on options for your birth! I highly recommend this class to anyone interested in learning about more nature birthing options. read more