So... What’s The Big Deal About Somatic Therapy?

By Syed Zulfadhli. Read the Original Article on Her World Singapore.

Once considered niche, somatic therapy is now gaining traction across wellness spaces, clinical settings, and social media. On TikTok, the hashtag #somatictherapy features in nearly 29,000 posts, while Instagram hosts over 238,000 – showcasing everything from grounding techniques to nervous system resets.

A 2025 Coherent Market Insights report estimates the global somatic therapy market will surge from US $4.01 billion to over US $12.4 billion by 2032, signalling growing interest in body-based healing and integrative mental health care.

Unlike conventional talk therapy, somatic therapy views the nervous system as central to emotional regulation. It reconnects individuals with the physical effects of trauma or stress – through breath, movement, and tuning into bodily sensations.

“People don’t get stuck because talk therapy isn’t effective,” says Kathy Gabriel, co-founder and lead therapist at Soma Haus in Singapore. “But even when we understand something cognitively, the body still holds on to the tension.”

This shift toward body-based healing has been amplified by the pandemic, with many feeling “talked out” by traditional therapy. Chronic tension in the jaw, shoulders, or gut, Kathy explains, often points to stress the body hasn’t processed.

Somatic techniques include body scans, tapping, bilateral stimulation, humming, or even gentle swaying. Something as simple as a yawn – or what Kathy calls “pandiculation” – can help reset the nervous system. Once aimed at trauma recovery, these tools are now used for burnout, anxiety, and emotional disconnection.

Still, Kathy cautions against superficial adoption. “The therapy itself doesn’t create safety. It depends on the practitioner,” she says. “Safety is a responsibility, not a trend.”

Somatic therapy offers a grounded complement to traditional therapy. But like all wellness tools, it calls for discernment.