First Mental Health, Massage, & Esthetic Therapy Center in Sarasota & Manat
Unified Therapy offers the Best Mental Health Therapy and the Best Massage Therapy.
Serving the Suncoast of Florida.
Unified Therapy offers the Best Mental Health Therapy and the Best Massage Therapy.
Serving the Suncoast of Florida.
Mercidia Hendra is a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage Therapist (MLD-C), Certified Post-Surgical Therapist (CPST), Licensed Esthetician, and Co-Owner of Unified Therapy. She specializes in post-plastic surgery recovery, Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), advanced regenerative therapies, and skin rejuvenation, helping clients heal faster, reduce swelling, improve circulation, and restore confidence throughout their recovery journey.
A graduate of the Sarasota School of Massage, Mercidia has dedicated her career to becoming an expert in lymphatic health and post-operative care. She is certified in the Vodder Method of Manual Lymphatic Drainage and Advanced Management of Post-Plastic Surgery Recovery, allowing her to safely guide clients through every stage of healing while helping minimize swelling, bruising, fibrosis, and scar tissue formation.
In addition to her massage therapy credentials, Mercidia is a Registered Nurse in Costa Rica, bringing valuable medical knowledge and clinical experience to every treatment. She combines compassionate, hands-on care with today's most advanced regenerative technologies and is certified in (click on each for more info) INDIBA® Compact Pro Radiofrequency Therapy, Hivamat® Deep Oscillation Therapy, and ProCell™ Microchanneling Therapy, allowing her to create personalized treatment plans that promote healing, reduce pain and inflammation, improve skin health, and enhance overall wellness.
As a Licensed Esthetician, Mercidia also provides advanced skin rejuvenation treatments focused on stimulating collagen production, improving skin texture, reducing the appearance of fine lines and scars, and helping clients achieve naturally healthy, radiant skin.
Whether clients are recovering from plastic surgery, managing lymphedema or chronic swelling, seeking relief from pain, or investing in healthier, more youthful-looking skin, Mercidia is committed to delivering exceptional care with compassion, expertise, and personalized attention.
Areas of Specialization
Meghan Ostema is a compassionate Licensed Massage Therapist who is passionate about helping clients heal, restore balance, and improve their overall well-being through personalized therapeutic massage. She specializes in Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) and post-surgical recovery, providing gentle, customized treatments that reduce swelling, improve circulation, support the lymphatic system, and promote a smoother, more comfortable healing process.
Certified in the Vodder Method of Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Meghan works with clients recovering from plastic surgery, managing chronic swelling, or seeking relief from discomfort while helping minimize fluid retention and encourage the body's natural healing response. She believes that every client deserves individualized care and takes the time to understand each person's unique goals and recovery needs.
In addition to Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Meghan incorporates a variety of therapeutic techniques, including Swedish Massage, Thai Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, Assisted Stretching, Bamboo Massage, and Hot Stone Therapy, creating treatments that are both restorative and results-driven. Her thoughtful approach blends clinical knowledge with a calming presence to help clients feel comfortable, supported, and cared for throughout every session.
Whether your goal is post-operative recovery, improved mobility, pain relief, stress reduction, or overall wellness, Meghan is dedicated to helping you feel your best through compassionate care and personalized treatment.
Areas of Specialization
Marcia Cristina Freitas is a Licensed Facial Specialist with a passion for helping clients achieve healthy, radiant skin through personalized, results-driven skincare. Originally from Brazil, Marcia owned and operated her own successful esthetics business for many years, bringing the beauty traditions, techniques, and expertise of one of the world's most respected skincare industries to Unified Therapy.
She specializes in advanced facial treatments, skin rejuvenation, anti-aging therapies, and customized skincare solutions designed to restore skin vitality while enhancing each client's natural beauty. Her holistic approach blends professional skincare with a relaxing, wellness-focused experience, allowing clients to enjoy both visible results and a renewed sense of confidence.
Every treatment is thoughtfully customized to address each client's unique skin concerns, whether improving hydration, refining skin texture, promoting a youthful glow, or supporting long-term skin health. Marcia believes that beautiful skin begins with healthy skin and is committed to helping every client achieve lasting results through personalized care and professional expertise.
Areas of Specialization
Credentials
Massage therapy can be an important part of maintaining physical wellness, managing muscle tension, supporting mobility, and promoting relaxation. At Unified Therapy, our massage therapists provide personalized treatments based on your body's individual needs.
We specialize in Certified Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) and post-surgical recovery, helping clients support the body's natural healing and lymphatic processes following certain procedures.
We also offer advanced therapeutic technologies that can complement massage and recovery treatments, including INDIBA® Radiofrequency Therapy and Hivamat® Deep Oscillation Therapy. These modalities can be incorporated into an individualized treatment plan based on your specific needs and goals.
Whether your goal is post-surgical recovery, managing muscle tension, supporting mobility, relaxation, or overall physical wellness, our therapists customize each session to your specific needs.
Massage Therapy, Post-Surgical Recovery, and Advanced Wellness Technologies are self-pay services.
Healthy skin is an important part of feeling confident and taking care of yourself. Our esthetic services focus on skin health, rejuvenation, hydration, and maintaining a healthy, refreshed appearance.
We offer customized treatments tailored to your individual skin type and concerns, from routine skin maintenance to advanced rejuvenation.
Our esthetic treatments are personalized to your skin's needs and are designed to help support healthier-looking, smoother, and more refreshed skin.
Esthetic services are self-pay services.
Phil Hendra is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and Co-Owner of Unified Therapy dedicated to helping individuals and couples navigate life's most difficult challenges. He believes healing begins with a strong therapeutic relationship built on trust, compassion, and collaboration, creating a safe space where clients feel supported, understood, and empowered.
Phil specializes in helping survivors of narcissistic abuse, whether the relationship involves a spouse, partner, parent, family member, friend, or co-worker. He helps clients rebuild self-esteem, establish healthy boundaries, process trauma, and regain confidence as they move forward.
As a Preferred Community Care Provider with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Phil also works with veterans and military families facing PTSD, anxiety, depression, and the unique challenges of military service. In addition, he provides marriage and couples counseling, helping partners strengthen communication, resolve conflict, and rebuild healthy relationships.
His approach is personalized and evidence-based, utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Psychoeducation to help clients create meaningful, lasting change.
Phil earned his Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from Stetson University and his Master's Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University.
Areas of Specialization
Insurance Accepted: Aetna, United Healthcare, Florida Blue, and Optum VA Community Care.
Telehealth Appointments Only
Katlyn Tobey is a compassionate Licensed Clinical Social Worker who specializes in helping teens and young adults navigate the challenges of adolescence, including puberty, school stress, anxiety, self-esteem, identity development, relationship concerns, and life transitions. She is passionate about helping young people build confidence, improve communication, develop healthy coping skills, and create stronger relationships with themselves and others.
Katlyn also has experience supporting individuals struggling with disordered eating and body image concerns, providing a safe, nonjudgmental space where clients feel understood, empowered, and supported throughout their healing journey.
In addition to working with adolescents, Katlyn provides couples counseling to help partners strengthen communication and deepen connection, and she is honored to work with veterans, helping them navigate life's unique challenges with compassion and evidence-based care.
Katlyn earned her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from the University of Central Florida and her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Denver. She utilizes Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Person-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy to create individualized treatment plans that foster lasting growth and positive change.
Areas of Specialization
Insurance Accepted: United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, and Florida Blue. Affordable self-pay rates are also available.
Telehealth appointments only.
Constantino Mosqueda is a bilingual mental health counselor dedicated to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate life's challenges. As a United States Navy veteran who served honorably, Constantino brings a unique combination of clinical education, life experience, compassion, and understanding to his work with clients.
Constantino works with individuals ages 10 through seniors, as well as couples, providing a safe and supportive environment where clients feel heard, understood, and respected. He works with clients from diverse cultural backgrounds and tailors therapy to each person's individual needs, strengths, and goals.
Constantino provides marriage and couples counseling, helping partners improve communication, work through conflict, and build healthier relationships. He also works with individuals experiencing trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions, stress, and emotional challenges.
His approach is personalized and evidence-based, utilizing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Trauma-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Psychoeducation to help clients develop effective coping skills and create meaningful change.
Constantino earned his Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) and Master's Degree in Counseling.
Areas of Specialization
Your mental and emotional well-being plays an important role in your overall quality of life. At Unified Therapy, our mental health professionals provide a supportive, confidential environment where individuals, couples, and families can work through challenges and develop healthier ways of coping and connecting.
Our counselors work with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and seniors and provide individualized treatment for a wide range of concerns, including:
Our therapists utilize evidence-based approaches including CBT, ACT, Mindfulness, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, and Psychoeducation. Treatment is tailored to each client's needs, strengths, and goals.
Insurance is accepted for eligible Mental Health Counseling services.
2033 Wood Street, Suite 120, Sarasota, Florida 34237, United States
TEXT: 941.928.8494 EMAIL: unifiedtherapyfl@gmail.com
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
I have been lucky in that the VA sent me outside of their closed system to see one of the counselors here at the practice. His name is Phil H. He is simply one of the best "psyche" people I have ever spoken to, and I am 62 years old. He is attentive to your needs and helps you work your own puzzle to find solutions to everyday problems and the puzzle of the path that we call life. He listens... talks about whatever is on your mind...and is empathetic. I appreciate his guidance.
Mercidia is hands down the most amazing caring massage therapist I’ve met! So thankful to have crossed paths - she’s done multiple lymphatic massages on me and helped by body recover immensely! I would highly recommend her for your post surgical needs. She is also super personable, and a very kind, sweet soul!!
The VA suggested Phil H., since my therapist no longer saw patients in person.
I’ve been seeing Phil H. since last August. After my first meeting with him, I knew I was with the right person to help. I was in an abusive, narcissistic relationship that had taken total control. He has helped me work through all that ugliness and fear. He’s kind, caring, and guides me to my new self of living in strength and freedom.
I’m thankful for the tools and nudging to do the work I needed to do. Thank you Phil!
Mercidia has been such an amazing help to not only my physical body but also my mental health during this time of recovery post-surgery. I have had so much lymphatic swelling backed up from a Mommy Makeover, and she has been working diligently to get the swelling down and helping me feel so much better. She has different machines and hand techniques that help me, and she is always so prompt, friendly, and accommodating. She takes her time focusing on whatever problem areas I have, and it has been life-changing. I 100% recommend her services 1000 times over.
I have been seeing Phil Hendra for the past year
for trauma therapy. I am so impressed with the progress I have made, unlike the last thirty years! My past experiences with counselors were so discouraging; I felt like I was making no progress. I would share feelings, but I didn’t feel heard or assisted in overcoming my traumatic experiences. Under Phil’s care, I feel heard! Also, he has taught me the tools to move past my trauma and focus on building a joyful, fulfilling life. When I become embroiled in my traumatic experiences and emotional mind, Phil shows empathy while encouraging me to focus on my present. Reinforcing the tools I have learned with his assistance. I would highly recommend Phil if you’re seeking professional, ethical, healing care! The care I have received has changed my life!
If you’re looking for post-op lymphatic care—or lymphatic care in general—this is hands down the best place in Sarasota. I’ve been to other med spas in the area, and unfortunately, the massage therapists there actually made my recovery worse.
Mercidia is a true professional who genuinely cares and takes the time to work with you as an individual. She checks in on me regularly, and I feel incredibly lucky to have her supporting me throughout my healing process.
I’ve had two lower-leg surgeries for lipedema. After my first surgery, I wish I had gone to Mercidia from the beginning. Instead, I went elsewhere, and they didn’t know what they were doing—making my recovery longer and far more painful. About halfway through that recovery, I finally trusted Mercidia with my care, and I’m so grateful I found her.
I’ve just completed my second surgery and am only two weeks post-op, and the recovery process has been ten times more comfortable and manageable thanks to her care.
She also does a wonderful job of making you feel heard, seen, and comfortable — And she gives great massages too!
Whether you’re coming here for post-op, Lympathic drainage or just to relax — you will leave here feeling lighter and happier!
had 10 manual lymphatic drainage massages post-surgery for lipedema liposuction. mercidia is such a sweet person, very attentive to your comfort. her handiwork has never been painful. she used different techniques through my series of massages to change things up a little and target areas that needed more attention. it feels so good that i always wish my sessions were longer. always a pleasure to visit, too. the room atmosphere is very relaxing. highly recommend!!!
Phillip Hendra helped me make huge positive changes in my life. After our first meeting where he listened carefully and took detailed notes. Phillip Hendra then created a treatment plan that empowered me to make the changes in my life that I wanted to. I did not know I was capable of doing the things I have done.
I cannot thank Phill enough for helping me discover the abilities I had inside myself. I am entirely grateful to Phillip Hendra and strongly recommend Phil to anyone looking for a counselor.
Katlyn is great with my daughter!! She loves going to see her. I’d highly recommend Katlyn for any child needing therapy
Meghan was great! Will recommend friends and family to visit here
I've been going to therapy with Phil Hendra since early last year (2024), having gotten an authorization from my VA doctor.
I'd been separated from the military since 1995 and have had little to no support in my life, from the VA or otherwise.
I'm glad that the VA can now offer this service through the Comunity Care Network for which I am eligible.
They initially asked if I was interested in group therapy, which I was not.
So I took a leap into giving psychotherapy a try, knowing that I had long-standing issues that needed to be addressed sooner rather than later.
I went in not knowing what to expect from such a therapy. At first, it was quite difficult for me, having lived in a vacuum support-wise for decades.
Phil was there for me at the beginning of this process, listening, asking questions, getting a real understanding for what is was that I've been silently facing for so many years, and helping me to unravel the life that I become accustomed to living, many times to my own detriment.
He was there for me, confidilentially and sincerely, to help me with what I needed most, to get my life on track and improving.
There is no shame in therapy folks. To my surprise, it provided me with the consistency and foward thinking that I didn't realise I needed so much. And for that, I am truly grateful for Phil and how he's enabled me to improve my life.
To my fellow veterans, if you know deep down that you need help, you're 100% correct. Don't hesitate to ask your primary physician for a referral, they will gladly authorize the order for care. There's a better life ahead, and therapy is a powerful, custom made tool to that endeavor.
I'm grateful for Phil Hendra having gotten me this far, and it's just the start.
Sincerely,
Erin W. Hood
- USAF veteran
Meghan was amazing. The entire experience from start to finish was incredible!!
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