Currently, the image of the mandala continues to be used by Jungian psychotherapists during analytical sessions, and also, and most widely, the mandala symbol is used in art therapy, in which drawing a mandala image has emerged as a separate method. I would like to immediately note that the concept of “art therapy” is used me in its narrower context: as therapy through the visual arts. It is a synthesis of art and psychotherapy, which developed based on the theory of psychoanalysis by S. Freud and some of its provisions, such as sublimation, projection, and mainly on the symbolic concept of analytical psychology by Jung. When characterizing any art therapeutic process, we can talk about three indispensable components that must be present in order to form a psychotherapeutic effect: - the factor of artistic expression, which includes the process of spontaneous expression of the patient’s feelings, thoughts and desires through the creation of a work of art; - the factor of psychotherapeutic relationships, which examines the phenomenon of transference and counter-transference (this is a given to Freud and his concept of transference). - the factor of interpretation and feedback, here the art therapist has the opportunity to give feedback to the patient about those symbols that are expressed in his work, so that help the patient understand his problem, find ways and mechanisms to solve it. These factors were identified by A.I. Kopytin. in his book “Theory and Practice of Art Therapy” [1]. Naturally, these factors of the art therapeutic process are also present when the therapist uses the mandala method. The factor of artistic expression when drawing a mandala consists of several components. One of them is the use of the method of active imagination, which was proposed by Jung. Jung spoke of fantasies as something very significant: “I always try to fantasize with a patient. After all, I don’t disdain fantasy. For me, she is ultimately the maternal creative force of the male spirit. We cannot rise above our imagination. Of course, there are empty, helpless, painful and useless fantasies, the sterile nature of which common sense immediately recognizes, but dysfunction, as we know, says nothing about function. All human creations are products of creative imagination. How can one neglect the power of imagination?”[2] This method helps the patient create something meaningful, to produce his psychic from the outside through painting or drawing. For this to happen, drawing must be spontaneous for the patient. Joanna Kellogg, a modern American art therapist, following Jung, insists on the spontaneity of this process. Patients are advised not to strive for aestheticization of their works. As D. Kellogg says, in the process of drawing a mandala, a special state of consciousness develops: “Thanks to the deep concentration that participants achieve in the process of creating mandalas, they can develop altered states of consciousness, in particular a state close to to hypnotic”[3]. During an art therapy session, the phenomenon of transference may also be present. The peculiarity of transfer when using the mandala method, as well as in art therapy in general, is that it can be direct or indirect by art therapeutic products and expressed through visual images. The third factor of the art therapeutic process is interesting, since the therapist’s interpretation of symbols manifested in a work, is usually built on Jung’s concept of the archetype and its expression in symbols. This interpretation of the symbol reflects its relationship between the conscious and unconscious of a person. Interpretation of the drawn mandalas provides knowledge about the patient’s mental state, his attitude towards himself and others. Interpreting a mandala does not mean giving a ready-made recipe for judgment to the patient; often the patient is involved in the discussion, in the interpretation itself.Based on the book by D. Kellogg, we can talk about several directions in the interpretation of the mandala: this is the interpretation of the colors used in the mandala and their arrangement and, also, the shape of the mandala, the harmonious arrangement of its internal parts. The color of the center of the mandala is interpreted separately, and in the interpretation the meanings of the colors are based on how on archetypal meanings and the meanings that Luscher proposes in his method of color choices. The meaning of shapes in mandalas is also interpreted in a certain way. So, for example, K. Kellogg writes that the main figure lying at the base, the center of the mandala, is interpreted separately, and in unity with the rest of the mandala. She offers the following interpretations of the images [4]: ​​A star is a symbol of masculinity, a man standing confidently on his feet, a connection with the material world, the physical body, the presence of energy, strength. A flower is a symbol of femininity. The cross is Christian symbolism, which is also presented by Jung as centering psychic center, the Self in relation to space, the four cardinal directions. A square is a square in a circle, Colleen interprets this as a courtyard or garden, which can be either closed. So open. If it is closed, this may mean depression. One may disagree with this statement, based on Jung’s interpretation, since this is what Jung calls the squaring of the circle and the archetype of the Self: “The squaring of the circle is one of many archetypal motifs underlying the mentioned the outlines of our dreams and fantasies. It is characterized, among other things, by the fact that it functionally refers to the most important motives. You can almost directly designate it as an archetype of integrity"[5]. A triangle means movement, two differently directed triangles mean duality, a combination of destructive and creative principles. Psychotherapeutic meaning of the mandala: to serve as support for the disintegrated psyche of the patient, in connection with the original concept of integrity inherent in in the mandala. Therefore, the use of mandalas has no restrictions and can be used for any form of borderline and deep psychopathology, the main thing is that the patient accepts the very possibility of drawing this image. It is possible to use this method both individually and in a group. Due to the fact that the forms of mandalas are varied, this can also be used for psychodiagnostics in the process of psychotherapy. As a psychodiagnostic tool, the mandala can be used both at the beginning of art therapeutic work and longitudinally as the patient progresses through therapy. Cellogg provides a list of the use of mandalas, which was proposed by Carol Koch [6]: - use of techniques together with convection tests, - use for primary diagnosis, - use for cross-sectional diagnostics, - use to identify stable artistic preferences of patients. In the case of using mandalas in a therapeutic aspect we can talk about mandala therapy, in which drawing a mandala becomes the main therapeutic tool. This concept is currently found in modern literature, such as in the collection “Healing Art No. 1” in the article by Oleg Bogachev [7]. The “Mandala” method can be used in combination with other methods, for example, with music therapy, fairy tale therapy, sand therapy, other psychotherapeutic directions. So, we can say that the “Mandala” method has a wide range of applications and its own characteristics, which require special training from a psychologist and psychotherapist, familiarity with the theory of symbolism presented by Jung and other psychologists, the cultural characteristics of this symbol, special art therapeutic training. [1] Kopytin A.I. “Theory and practice of art therapy” - St. Petersburg, Peter, 2002. P.45 [2] K. Jung Goals of Psychotherapy.9/Wanderer’s Library K_ G_ Yu. [3] Kellogg Joanna Diagnostics in art therapy. Mandala method. /Ed. A.I. Kopytina, - St. Petersburg: Rech, 2005, P.31 [4] Kellogg Joanna Diagnostics in art therapy. Method №1 2007