Trauma and PTSD
Processing single-incident or complex trauma so the past stops bleeding into the present.
EMDR therapy in West Los Angeles
The past shouldn't still run your present.
Certified EMDR with Amanda Burback, LMFT, for adults in West LA and online across California.
Move past what's still weighing on you, without reliving every detail of what happened.
EMDR might be right for you if...
- You have memories or past experiences you haven't been able to move past
- Talk therapy has helped but hasn't gotten you all the way there
- You feel triggered by things that seem unrelated to what happened
- You carry guilt, shame, or self-blame that doesn't budge no matter how much you understand it
- Your body reacts strongly to certain situations, people, or reminders
- You want an evidence-based approach with decades of research behind it
EMDR DOESN'T ASK YOU TO RELIVE WHAT HAPPENED. IT ASKS YOUR BRAIN TO FINALLY FILE IT AWAY.
Traumatic memories don't process like ordinary ones. They stay raw, reactive, and present. EMDR changes how they're stored so they stop feeling like something that's still happening now.
What EMDR can help with.
Anxiety and phobias
Breaking the link between specific triggers and fear responses that feel out of proportion to what's actually happening.
Grief and loss
Working through loss that feels stuck, unresolved, or still too raw to fully process through conversation alone.
Shame and negative core beliefs
Shifting deeply held beliefs like it was my fault or I'm not safe that came from what you experienced and never fully let go.
Panic and hypervigilance
Calming a nervous system that stays braced for danger long after the original threat has passed.
Stuck or unresolved experiences
Reprocessing any experience, large or small, that left a lasting emotional mark and hasn't loosened its grip over time.
Our approach
Certified, not just trained.
Amanda is fully certified in Attachment-Focused EMDR through the Parnell Institute. That means she has gone beyond the foundational training required to practice EMDR, completing advanced training, supervised consultation, and extensive clinical work using the approach.
Parnell Institute · Certified Attachment-Focused EMDR01
It starts as regular therapy
Your first few sessions are conversation. Amanda gets to know you and what you're actually carrying before any reprocessing begins.
02
EMDR starts when you're ready
There's no set timeline. We move into trauma work once you feel steady with Amanda and have the tools to handle what surfaces.
03
You call the stops
Awake and aware the whole time. Not hypnosis. Say pause and we pause.
04
Same therapist, same thread
Amanda holds the EMDR and the rest of your therapy together, so nothing gets dropped between them.
The process
What it actually looks like.
EMDR follows eight phases. You won't rush through them, and you won't start processing until the groundwork is done.
01
History
We map what you're carrying and pick what to work on. Nothing gets processed yet.
02
Preparation
You build grounding skills first, so the hard parts stay manageable.
03
Assessment
We choose one memory and name the belief about yourself attached to it.
04
Desensitization
You hold it in mind while following gentle bilateral stimulation, pausing often.
05
Installation
A steadier belief about yourself starts to take hold and gets reinforced.
06
Body scan
We check where it still lives physically and clear whatever is left.
07
Closure
Every session ends grounded. You leave back in the room, not in the memory.
08
Reevaluation
Next session we see what held, what shifted, and what to work on next.
Your EMDR therapist
Amanda Burback, LMFT
LMFT #108598 · Certified Attachment-Focused EMDR Therapist, Parnell Institute
Common questions about EMDR.
What is EMDR?
EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. It's a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps your brain reprocess memories that got stuck during overwhelming experiences. Rather than fading like most memories do, traumatic ones can stay raw and reactive, triggering the same emotions and physical responses as if the event is still happening. EMDR changes how those memories are stored so they stop running the show.
How is EMDR different from regular talk therapy?
Talk therapy works through conversation to build insight and shift patterns over time. EMDR targets how specific memories are stored in the brain using bilateral stimulation. It often produces faster relief from trauma symptoms and doesn't require you to narrate everything that happened in detail. Many clients use both together.
What is bilateral stimulation?
Bilateral stimulation means activating both sides of the brain in an alternating rhythm during memory processing. This can be done through guided eye movements, alternating tapping on each knee or shoulder, or tones through headphones. The method used is based on what feels most comfortable for you.
Does EMDR involve tapping?
It can. Tapping is one form of bilateral stimulation used in EMDR. Depending on what works best for you, your therapist might use eye movements, audio tones, or tapping. The specific method is tailored to what feels comfortable and effective.
Do I have to talk about what happened in detail?
No. One of the reasons many people prefer EMDR is that you don't have to narrate your trauma in detail. You'll bring a memory to mind, but the processing happens through bilateral stimulation rather than verbal analysis. You can share as much or as little as you choose.
Is EMDR backed by research?
Yes, extensively. EMDR is recognized as an effective trauma treatment by the World Health Organization, the American Psychological Association, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the American Psychiatric Association. Multiple peer-reviewed studies over three decades support its effectiveness, often showing results faster than traditional therapy alone.
How many EMDR sessions will I need?
It varies. Some people notice significant shifts within a few sessions for a single-incident trauma. More complex or long-standing trauma may take longer. Our clinicians will work with you to build a realistic plan based on your history and what you're working through.
Can EMDR help with things other than trauma?
Yes. While EMDR is best known for trauma and PTSD, research supports its use for anxiety, phobias, panic, grief, and deeply held negative beliefs like I'm not safe or I'm not enough. If you're unsure whether EMDR is the right fit for what you're working on, the free consultation is a good place to explore that.