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.

My Philosophy:

I believe that spaces for somatic exploration offer a precious opportunity to get to know hidden sides of ourselves and of our relationships. 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.