Luminate Mill Valley's Online Review Report Card

I love working with Samantha. Her effectiveness as a healing practitioner springs from her immense dedication to her clients, her curiosity about body and spirit, and her skill and sensitivity as an acupuncturist. Her open-heartedness as she listens and "feels into" what is happening with you is sensational. She is committed to finding a way to help, no matter what difficulty is presenting itself. I always feel heard and taken care of by her. She has helped me with specific issues I didn't think could be "fixed," along with calming down my nervous system in general. She is a great companion for improving health!

I love working with Samantha. Her effectiveness as a healing practitioner springs from her immense dedication to her clients, her curiosity about body and spirit, and her skill and sensitivity as an acupuncturist. Her open-heartedness as she listens and “feels into” what is happening with you is sensational. She is committed to finding a way to help, no matter what difficulty is presenting itself. I always feel heard and taken care of by her. She has helped me with specific issues I didn’t think could be “fixed,” along with calming down my nervous system in general. She is a great companion for improving health!

Samantha's impact on my daughter's well-being has been nothing short of remarkable. Initially seeking relief for a stiff neck, she helped her far beyond. My daughter had endured anxiety, severe depression, and panic attacks for nearly two years, despite attempts with various Western approaches, including therapy and medication. Samantha's acupuncture treatments were the turning point. Each session brought visible improvements, transforming my daughter's outlook and quality of life. Her sudden eagerness for social interactions, increased resilience in crowded environments, and renewed enthusiasm for activities and sports highlight the effectiveness of Samantha's care. Impressively, within just five treatments, my daughter's remarkable progress allowed her to excel in competitive volleyball tryouts and secure a spot on the team. What sets Samantha apart is her authenticity, kindness, and unwavering empathy. My perceptive daughter immediately felt safe in Samantha's presence. She even said "I can tell you are safe" on our first visit. Samantha is maybe the kindest, gentlest, most authentic person I have ever met making sensitive teens feel incredibly safe. For any parent with a struggling child or teen (or anyone else for that matter), I wholeheartedly endorse Samantha's acupuncture and holistic approach. Samantha deserves credit not only for the power of acupuncture but also for the genuine connection that she creates. She has truly changed my daughter's life.

Samantha's impact on my 14-yo daughter's well-being has been nothing short of remarkable. Initially seeking relief for a stiff neck, she helped her far beyond. My daughter had endured anxiety, severe depression, and panic attacks for nearly two years, despite attempts with various Western approaches, including therapy and medication. Samantha's acupuncture treatments were the turning point. Each session brought visible improvements, transforming my daughter's outlook and quality of life. Her sudden eagerness for social interactions, increased resilience in crowded environments, and renewed enthusiasm for activities and sports highlight the effectiveness of Samantha's care. Impressively, within just five treatments, my daughter's remarkable progress allowed her to excel in competitive volleyball tryouts and secure a spot on the team. What sets Samantha apart is her authenticity, kindness, and unwavering empathy. My perceptive daughter immediately felt safe in Samantha's presence. She even said “I can tell you are safe” on our first visit. Samantha is maybe the kindest, gentlest, most authentic person I have ever met making sensitive teens feel incredibly safe. For any parent with a struggling child or teen (or anyone else for that matter), I wholeheartedly endorse Samantha's acupuncture and holistic approach. Samantha deserves credit not only for the power of acupuncture but also for the genuine connection that she creates. She has truly changed my daughter's life.

At 81, I thought I just needed to adjust to pain and malfunction, but no, Samantha has taught me to listen to my body and heal in ways I didn't think possible. I am eternally grateful for her wisdom and expertise.

I've been working with Samantha to address a condition where nightly back pain impacted my sleep. After 6-9 months of acupuncture treatment the pain and stiffness was reduced and I was sleeping much better. I continue to see her for maintenance treatments and for the incidental aches and pains life throws one's way. She is very skilled and knowledgeable, a good listener and fun to talk with.

I've been working with Samantha to address a condition where nightly back pain impacted my sleep. After 6-9 months of acupuncture treatment the pain and stiffness was reduced and I was sleeping much better. I continue to see her for maintenance treatments and for the incidental aches and pains life throws one's way. She is very skilled and knowledgeable, a good listener and fun to talk with.

Samantha is a phenomenal acupuncturist! I can't thank her enough for the attention and care she gives me. I have arthritis and many other issues and after Samantha needles me I am always transformed: out of pain and full of new ideas about how to cope with my conditions. She is ultra responsible -- attempts to find out as much as possible about patient medical history and any other treatments a person is undergoing. She balances this information with extremely useful needling approaches and acute insight into the intersection of different medical modalities. She is not a purist --of course she'd prefer that we avoid allopathic medications, for example - but if one needs to use some, she respects and works with that. The Mill Valley office is lovely, welcoming and serene. It's easy to park and there are very few stairs so it's excellent for anyone with mobility issues. It is also very fast to get to the Mill Valley office from San Francisco and surrounding areas. I encourage people to go the Mill Valley office where it is much easier to schedule and a great place to sink into deep relaxation from Samantha's excellent treatment. Thanks for all you do Samantha!

Samantha is a phenomenal acupuncturist! I can't thank her enough for the attention and care she gives me. I am 66, have arthritis and many other issues and after Samantha needles me I am always transformed: out of pain and full of new ideas about how to cope with my conditions. She is ultra responsible -- attempts to find out as much as possible about patient medical history and any other treatments a person is undergoing. She balances this information with extremely useful needling approaches and acute insight into the intersection of different medical modalities. She is not a purist --of course she'd prefer that we avoid allopathic medications, for example - but if one needs to use some, she respects and works with that. The Mill Valley office is lovely, welcoming and serene. It's easy to park and there are very few stairs so it's excellent for anyone with mobility issues. It is also very fast to get to the Mill Valley office from San Francisco and surrounding areas. Thanks for all you do Samantha! (I originally wrote this review about both the Mill Valley and San Francisco offices but revised it to encourage people to go the Mill Vally office where it is much easier to schedule and a great place to sink into deep relaxation from Samantha's excellent treatment)

Acupuncture healing with Dr. Ostergaard is moving my body toward a place of deep wellness. I am so grateful that a friend recommended her practice to me. I began work with her in December 2021, seeking relief from chronic neck and shoulder pain, along with a cluster of other symptoms that my regular doctor was trying to treat with medications that did not help. I had been out on medical leave for four months and had two visits to the emergency room. My system was in freefall, and I feared that I may become permanently unable to work. My body was so sensitive that at first it could barely tolerate the needles. However, Dr. Ostergaard applied her diagnostic methodology and worked with me patiently to identify root causes and find the pattern of my symptoms. She listened carefully to me and my body in a process that helped me to gain trust in myself and what my body was communicating. Along with twice-weekly sessions, she connected me with a variety of resources for mind-body healing including yoga, lab work, reading materials. I am now back at work full time and undergoing treatment protocols for Lyme with a practitioner she recommended. Under her care, my entire system is being reset. If you are dealing with chronic pain, complex conditions, or just seeking more wellness and equilibrium, Dr. Ostergaard is a smart, kind, compassionate and gifted healer who does not jump to conclusions but works with you to discover what your body needs. I am deeply grateful to her for helping me get my life back!