About Dawn Ellis
Hi, I am Dawn Ellis, licensed clinical social worker of 26 years. I have facilitated support groups for pregnancy and early parenting for over 11 years. Witnessing and holding space for women as they navigate the transitions of motherhood is a passion that I feel deep in my bones. My pregnancy and early parenting group work is informed through the lens of matrescence, which is a holistic view of a woman's unique journey into motherhood.
Creating welcoming, non-judgemental, safe spaces where taboos can be discussed, examining structures that no longer serve us, and fostering deep friendships is what I do really well. Mothers leave my groups feeling empowered, validated, refueled and with a lasting community of true friends.
It isn’t just my charming sense of humor that keeps mamas coming back. Women feel comfortable with me and return to my support groups with their subsequent children because I am compassionate, curious, non-judgemental and truly feel that there is no right way to experience pregnancy or motherhood. The only right way is your way and I am here to help you discover what that is.
It is a privilege to be a witness to women as they transition through the rite of passage of motherhood. I am honored to be able to provide a safe container for women to examine their changing identities, learn about themselves as mothers, transform, gain confidence and create a lasting community.
In my own life I am a mother of three, wife and daughter. My love language is spiritual and personal growth and those play a big part in how I prepare for and show up in my work. In addition to my social work training, I am a reiki master and an ordained interfaith minister. I currently facilitate new moon women’s gatherings in my community which offer a space for women to reflect, connect with the seasons and set intentions for the month ahead.
Groups are in person and located at
70 Wells Avenue, Newton
Mama To Be Support Group
Join our welcoming community of women expecting their first baby. This 4-week group offers space for the questions and feelings that don’t always get addressed in books or brief doctor visits. Together, we’ll explore the emotional and practical transition into motherhood, share resources and self-care tools—and most importantly, begin building the kind of friendships that make this journey feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more connected.
4 week group.
New Mama, New Baby Support Group
(NEWBORN-4 MONTHS)
Learn about the important developments your baby is experiencing in the early days and months of infancy. Join with other parents to create a place and time to explore all your questions and concerns. An honest environment to discuss all the amazing and not so amazing transitions into parenthood. Create a lasting support group of friends with babies the same age as yours. Gain the confidence that you can do it!
7 week group.
2nd Time or More Support Group
(NEWBORN-6 MONTHS)
Delight in alone time with your newest addition in this group especially for second and third time parents. Get the support you need, refresh your developmental knowledge, discuss the dynamics of your growing family, and make new friends.
7 week group.
Special Events
Baby Booty Pop Up Class, FREE
6 WEEKS - PRE-CRAWLERS
One of our favorite mom and baby workout spots, Baby Booty in Dedham, is coming to Dawn Ellis Groups for a free pop up class. Babies attendance is encouraged. A good workout and a warm community guaranteed.
Friday, June 20,
10:30-11:30am​
Music with Thomas!
3 MONTHS - 5 YEARS
Everyone's favorite weekend Jam!
​Enjoy guitar-driven live music, engaging songs, real instruments, dancing, laugh-out-loud story-telling, and a bundle of positive energy for a super fun music experience for you and your little one.
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Saturday, July 19
4:00- 4:45pm
Playful STEAM
6 MONTHS - 3 YEARS
Playful STEAM is hands-on play group for parents & little ones. Join early childhood STEAM expert and author Amanda Strawhacker for a fun, 45-minute playgroup that will help you tune into your child’s curiosity and support their learning through play. Discover simple, low-effort ways to spark STEAM thinking using everyday materials and learn to observe your baby’s play like a scientist!
Thursday, July 24 and Tuesday, August 5
4:00pm - 4:45pm​
Splish, Splash, Flash!
12 MONTHS - 36 MONTHS
Come play in the water, bubbles, and enjoy some messy summer fun while learning how to take iconic toddler photos on your phone! Beloved Boston photographer Jess McDaniel (@phonephotoswithjess) shares easy tips for capturing the magic in everyday moments. This joyful drop-in class blends playtime and photo know-how so you can soak up the memories and actually keep them.
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​Tuesday, July 8 from 4:00pm - 4:45pm
Music at the Blissful
3 MONTHS - 3 YEARS
Sing & Play in this upbeat music class. Join Music at the Blissful for a lively and heartwarming class where babies and toddlers sing, move, and explore music with their grownups. Through playful songs, rhythm, and imaginative fun, little ones build language, coordination, and connection, all while having a blast. A beautiful way to bond, grow, and share joyful moments together!
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Fridays, July 11, 25 and August 15, 29
10:00-11:00am
The Gab Lab: A Summer Series
4 MONTHS - 2 YEARS
Join us for a joyful and educational drop-in series designed to support your baby’s speech, language, and social development through music, stories, toys, and play! Led by Gillian Cohen, speech-language pathologist, each 45-minute class is a chance to connect, play, and learn. While little ones are engaged in play, Gillian will be instructing parents and caregivers how to build a strong foundation for communication and connection.
Wednesday, June 25, July 30 and August 13
10:00-10:45am
Dad's Meetup
0- 12 MONTHS
Join John Carr, LICSW, parent specialist/educator and author of “Becoming a Dad: The First Three Years,” for a casual get together. Bring your baby or come solo to meet other dads, socialize and create a community of dad friends.
​Saturdays, June 28 and July 26
10:30am-12:00pm
Milestones and More: A Summer Series
0- 12 MONTHS
Join the brilliant OTs from Baby Matters for two relaxed, info-packed sessions on supporting your baby’s development, from tummy time to walking, starting solids, gear questions, play and more. Bring your questions, leave empowered. Come to one session or both, every time they share you’ll walk away with new tools, deeper clarity, and more confidence in your parenting.
​Wednesdays, July 9 and 16
10:00am - 11:00am
Messy Makers
4 MONTHS - 36 MONTHS
Get ready to squish, scoop, splash, and explore! Messy Makers is a special drop-in sensory playgroup for babies and toddlers who love to get their hands on the world. This joyful class offers open-ended, developmentally appropriate messy play, from water tables and bubble foam to textured bins and taste-safe fun.​
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Sundays, August 3 and August 24
from 10:00am - 11:00am
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Infant and Child CPR
This course will teach you the skills of CPR and foreign body airway obstruction for an infant and child. This hands-on class is taught by a Certified Red Cross Instructor. You will be practicing the life-saving techniques.
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Saturday, July 19 from 10:00am-12:00pm or 12:30-2:30pm
Nurturing Neurodivergence Together: Summer Support Series
-July 9, 1:45-3pm, What is Neurodiversity? Let’s Celebrate Your Child’s Strengths and Nurture a Positive Sense of Self
-July 10, 7-8:15pm, Sharing the Diagnosis with Others, Managing Difficult Conversations
-July 14, 7-8:15pm, Teaching Your Child About Their Brain, Neurodiversity in Literature and Media
-July 28 & 31, 7-8:15pm, Supporting your Neurodivergent Child’s Friendships & Sibling Relationships
-July 30, 1:45-3pm, Supporting your Neurodivergent Child’s Friendships & Sibling Relationships
-August 4, 7-8:15pm, Reframe your Thinking: Behavior as Communication
-August 6, 1:45-3pm, Recognizing Your Strengths as a Parent and Self-Care
-August 11, 7-8:15pm, Recognizing Your Strengths as a Parent and Self-Care
Bracelet Making with GoldieLev
What’s more like summer camp than making bracelets and listening to music with friends? Only this time you get to do it with your baby!
Join us for a creative afternoon and craft your own beautiful bracelet stack. Come solo or bring your non-crawling baby. There’ll be a cozy space for little ones and an extra set of hands to help out if needed.
Bring a friend or come meet new ones. We can’t wait to create with you!
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Wednesday, July 16 from 12pm-2pm
Baby Mixer, FREE
NEWBORN - 1 YEAR
A relaxed, drop-in gathering for parents and babies. Come as you are. All feeding, diapering, soothing is welcome. Safe, cozy play spaces for your little one and a warm connection for you. Meet local caregivers and get a taste of the community. Whether you’re a regular or checking us out for the first time!
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Monday, July 7 and Wednesday, July 23
1:00pm-2:00pm​​​​​​​
Stroller Walk, FREE
Get outside and get social. Come with friends or solo and make new friends. You will walk the office park loop on Wells Ave where my office is located. You can stroll or wear your baby in carrier. My studio will be open for feeding, changing, soothing and bathroom breaks before and after the walk.​
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​Wednesday, July 2 at 10:00am.
Weather dependent
Women's Circle
Join this welcoming group for women of all ages and life stages. An authentic space to connect, reflect and set intentions for the month ahead through journaling and discussion. Leave feeling grounded, grateful and focused for the month ahead.
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June, 24, July 21, August 20, September 21, October 19, November 16 and December 21
from 7:00-8:30pm
Reset and Renewal
Open to women of all ages and stages. Stephanie Javaheri and Dawn Ellis will work together in this workshop with intentional breath work, mindful movement, gentle yoga, Reiki and meditation. A welcome nervous system reset that will leave you feeling nourished, grounded and renewed.
Sundays, September 7, November 2, December 7
4:00 - 5:15pm
Location, 70 Wells Avenue, Newton
Sacred Nurture:
A Cape Cod Retreat for Body, Mind and Spirit
Join us for a soulful, one day retreat on the water in East Falmouth. Our time together will be filled with yoga, Reiki, ceremony, journaling, mindful art, and nourishing food in an intimate community. You will connect with others while reconnecting with yourself and finding space to breathe, reflect, and be restored.
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The retreat is facilitated by Stephanie Javaheri and Dawn Ellis and hosted by Tamar Kahn.
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Saturday, October 25 from 10am-4:30pm
Refund & Sick Policy
We understand that life with little ones can be beautifully unpredictable, and we strive to hold space with both compassion and clarity.
Refund Policy
Due to the intimate nature of our support groups, most of our offerings are structured as closed group series. This allows us to cultivate safety, trust, and continuity—key elements of the meaningful work we do together.
As such, we do not offer refunds for missed classes. We will do our best to accommodate you in an alternate class, if one is available and appropriate, but please understand that make-up classes are not guaranteed.
It’s common for participants to occasionally miss a class due to travel, illness, or life’s surprises. We encourage you to attend as consistently as possible, knowing that the experience is enriched by your presence.
Sick Policy
The well-being of our community is a top priority. To help prevent the spread of illness and keep everyone healthy, we kindly ask that you stay home if you or your child is experiencing symptoms of a communicable illness, including: fever, persistent cough, heavy nasal discharge, diarrhea and vomiting
If you’re unable to attend due to illness, we’re happy to explore whether a make-up option exists in another appropriate class. However, make-up classes are subject to availability and do not carry over into future sessions.
Thank you for helping us maintain a safe and supportive space for all.
The discussions that Dawn prompted us to have were really valuable and her tips were extremely relevant to what I was going through in the moment. I felt really seen and supported.
FIRST TIME MAMA SUPPORT GROUP MEMBER
It is so normalized for babies to be challenging in the new-parent transition, but no one wants to talk about how difficult it is for older siblings (and by extension, their parents). It feels taboo to talk about these challenges, like hitting and regressions, when the baby arrives, so this platform was amazing to be able to do that.
SECOND TIME MAMA SUPPORT GROUP MEMBER
The experience made me feel part of a group, not alone and that other people are going through exactly what I have been going through! A great way to meet moms in the area and socialize.
SECOND TIME MAMA SUPPORT GROUP MEMBER
This group gave me exactly what I needed when I needed it! Dawn did a fantastic job facilitating discussion and creating a safe space where we all felt comfortable sharing our innermost thoughts almost immediately. I looked forward to each and every session!
SECOND TIME MAMA SUPPORT GROUP MEMBER
Dawn is an amazing moms group facilitator. She’s so real and honest and truly understands what moms are going through. Her advice and perspective is so valuable that I just wanted to hang out with her each week. She does a great job of connecting all the moms in the group to use each other as resources as we go through motherhood together.
FIRST TIME MAMA SUPPORT GROUP MEMBER
I enjoyed learning songs to sing with my baby and loved watching her learn to recognize the songs in the group and at home.  It was great to be with other moms and continue to get support as my baby grew older.  We looked forward to the group every week.
GIGGLES AND GRINS GROUP MEMBER
Healing for the Individual
Reiki
Reiki is a form of energy healing. It utilizes universal life force (Chi) to promote healing in the body, mind and spirit. The energy used in Reiki is only for the greatest good.
Reiki supports deep relaxation and I believe that this is where true healing begins. It is an energy healing therapy offered at most major hospitals because it has been shown to aid in the healing process. With the increased stress and anxiety in our culture, Reiki has come to the forefront as an important and valuable way for people to receive healing and care for themselves. Reiki can benefit your physical, emotional, spiritual and mental health in powerful ways. I am dedicated to offering energy healing and support to others. I offer individual sessions for energetic clearing and relaxation as well as ongoing work for people looking for support and guidance in addition to the energetic work.
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What does a session look like?
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You will lay clothed on a massage table and receive energy healing through light touch with hands held over your body. The session includes time to discuss your experience. Sessions are 50 minutes in length.
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I work with people at all stages and also provide Mom and Baby Reiki sessions.
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Contact Dawn
