About Darla Ketchum, LMT
My Approach
Many clients request “full body” or “Swedish” massage because those terms are familiar. While these approaches can be relaxing, they are not designed to address ongoing or chronic pain.
My work is individualized and root-cause focused. Rather than briefly touching every area, sessions focus on the tissues and movement patterns contributing to pain or restriction. This work requires time, precision, and clinical reasoning—not routine or cookie-cutter massage.
This approach is best suited for clients seeking:
- long-term change rather than temporary relief
- root-cause focused care (not routine massage)
- support for chronic pain, injury, or movement limitations
Myofascial therapy incorporates structural integration principles to address the underlying causes of pain and restriction.
Sessions are never spa or cookie-cutter. Each visit may include:
- assessment of tissue and movement
- hands-on evaluation and palpation
- guided movement testing
These tools guide focused, intentional treatment where it matters most.
Dedicated to Healing
With over 25 years of experience, Darla Ketchum, LMT, brings skill, precision, and a holistic perspective to her work as a Body Somatic Practitioner and Myofascial Therapist in the Kansas City area.
Darla trained at the Midwest Institute of Natural Healing, where she studied advanced Myofascial and Body Somatic Therapy under founder Carmelita Davis-Beets. Her training includes structural integration, trigger point therapy (neuromuscular work), pain-mechanisms, and craniosacral techniques.
She launched her practice in 2001, opened full-time bodywork in 2003. Then, became a Lead Instructor in 2006, training therapists in advanced myofascial techniques.
Her experience includes working with professional athletes such as:
• The former Kansas City Brigades
• A Champion Kickboxer
• Guinness World Record Champions of the Longest Baseball Game
More importantly, she works with a wide range of individuals from every walk of life, providing thoughtful and personalized care.
Your Partner in Long-Term Wellness
Darla is committed to personalized care and long-term wellness. Her approach recognizes that lasting change often involves both skilled hands-on work and attention to the factors that support healing over time.
As a Holistic Nutritional Consultant, she integrates nutritional insight when appropriate, supporting whole-body health alongside myofascial and other integrative therapies. Each session is designed to support improved movement, reduced pain, and sustainable recovery.