<![CDATA[Post-disaster recovery requires attention to the psychological condition of affected communities, particularly adolescents, whose ways of interpreting loss shape how they rebuild daily life. This community engagement program aimed to strengthen the independence of disaster-affected adolescents in Nagari Salareh Aia, Agam Regency, West Sumatra, through psychosocial support based on Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT). The program was conducted on 9 September 2026 at the Salareh Aia village office and SMA Negeri 2 Palembayan in collaboration with the village government and the school. Activities consisted of psychoeducation on adolescent independence and on rational and irrational beliefs, followed by REBT group counseling that guided participants to identify, dispute, and restructure disaster-related irrational beliefs. Outcomes were described against five characteristics of independence: understanding oneself and the environment, accepting oneself and the environment positively and dynamically, making decisions, self-direction, and self-actualization. Participants began to recognize irrational beliefs and redirect them toward more rational thinking, and approximately 70% reached the indicator of independence in decision-making. The other four characteristics had not yet developed evenly, indicating the need for continued support. REBT group counseling appears feasible as an entry point for strengthening adolescent independence after disasters, provided it is embedded in sustained collaboration among universities, village governments, and schools.]]>
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