MCFpanairobi employ  dance therapy as one of the strategy to address mental health challenges among the teenage mothers.

Dance therapy uses movement to help individuals achieve emotional, cognitive, physical, and social integration.

The strategy has been effective strategy that raises the heart rate and works the muscles to release symptoms of depression, anxiety as well as improve self-esteem and body image.

The teenage mothers got trained on 6 sessions of dance therapy which boosted their self-awareness and confidence which translates into improvement on their emotional health.

During the group therapy, the mental health counselor discusses issues that lead to mental challenges among teenage mother that may include:

• Stigma associated with teenage pregnancy
•  Rejection by parents, siblings, family and sexual partners
• Postpartum depression
• Trauma associated with being a parent
• Poor bonding between the teenage mothers and their children
• Loss and grief of child
• Unrealistic expectations about life leading to stress and anxiety

Through the one on one counseling session the teenage mother and scholarship students ware able to disclose their issues hence relief from depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions.

Over time the counseling sessions improve their:

•  Confidence
• Decision-making skill
• Ability to manage stress effectively
• Problem-solving
• Conflict resolution abilities