Circles of resilience: Mandala coloring as a window into trauma and healing in children affected by civil unrest in Myanmar.

Children exposed to armed conflict, such as those affected by ongoing civil unrest in Myanmar, frequently experience complex psychological distress that may be difficult to express through conventional verbal therapies. This paper examines the application of mandala therapy, encompassing both drawing and coloring, as a trauma-informed, non-verbal intervention within the broader domain of arts therapies (AsT). Grounded in Jungian theory and contemporary art therapy (AT) practices, mandalas are conceptualized as symbolic representations of the self that can facilitate emotional expression, containment, and psychological integration. The paper synthesizes existing literature on trauma, projective drawing, and mandala-based interventions, and identifies key observable characteristics in mandala artworks produced by traumatized children, including structural disorganization, altered line quality, restricted or intense color use, traumatic symbolism, and boundary disruptions. It further outlines a structured, culturally sensitive procedure for administering mandala therapy, emphasizing safety, non-directive facilitation, and gradual emotional processing. The authors introduced a novel Mandala Analysis Coding Framework for Trauma (MACF-T) to support systematic interpretation in clinical and research settings. Ethical considerations and limitations are briefly discussed, particularly regarding the subjective nature of interpretation and the need for contextualization. Overall, mandala therapy is presented as a low-cost, adaptable, and clinically valuable approach for supporting emotional regulation, symbolic communication, and recovery in children affected by war-related trauma.