About

About me

I am Dr. Tom Segal, a father, software developer, nuclear physicist, digital sculptor and facilitator of seminars and workshops on somatic and interpersonal exploration of intimacy.

Background:

In 2014, I moved to a new continent to study for my PhD in nuclear physics in Heidelberg, Germany.

In 2015, during my studies, I discovered a community researching the nuclei of relationships using a set of particles I didn’t study at the university, such as somatic games and vulnerable, personal conversations.

In 2016, I started facilitating my own weekend events for exploring human connections to oneself and to one another, including workshops on conscious touch, meditation and improvisation theatre. I also ran performative street experiments where the participants stood in the main street of the beautiful old town and offered willing passerbyes a few minutes of conscious eye contact, blindfolded hugs or blindfolded walks.

In 2019 I co-founded the label “Daring & Caring”, under which I co-facilitated four editions of “The Intimate Imaginarium”. In these gatherings 20-25 participants came to live together for up to 6 nights in a rented house and explore intimacy in its various forms as individuals and groups. Some of the workshops I facilitated include: conscious group massage and cuddling, playful wrestling, dominance and surrender through rope play, power dynamics through objectification and roleplay and blindfolded group dance.  I also co-facilitated similar workshops as a guest facilitator in Festivals such as the Blaue Blume festival and Touch & Play.

In 2023 I became a father. My son is giving me an ongoing personal masterclass in care, presence and boundaries.

In 2024 “Daring & Caring” and the relationship behind it ended. Since then, I am re-orienting myself as an independent human and facilitator.

In 2025 I joined the team of the “Touch & Play Cologne Festival”. I facilitated a workshop on somatic intersubjective boredom called “Bore me Roughly”, an introduction to power dynamics play and a co-created evening of somatic exploration called the Exploratorium. I also coordinated the sooth & care team.

In 2026 I returned to co-facilitate an intensive called “Guilty Pleasures” about guilt, shame and empowerment together with Liisa Fatuma. Also in 2026 I facilitated workshops and a performance at Liisa Fatuma’s Unfolding festival.

My Philosophy:

I believe group somatic exploration offers a precious opportunity to come into contact with emotions, states and parts of ourselves that we otherwise try to avoid or cannot easily come into contact with, such as guilt, shame, boredom, awkwardness or neediness. In my seminars and workshops I mix elements from the worlds of authentic relating, improvisation and playback theatre, constellation work, kink and conscious BDSM. I use all of these, mixed with a lovingly cynical and humorous facilitation style, in order to create scenarios and games which are simultaneously deep and absurd, inducing a psychological state I call “weirdissociation” (as opposed to “dissociation”), a state of “positive confusion” which nurtures true curiosity, freedom and creativity.