This is the hardest part. If I could give my past self advice, it would be this: This is so much simpler than you think it is.

Because, in retrospect, it WAS simple:

1. look up phone number to local community health center.
2. Call: "Hi. You take X insurance, right? Good. I'd like to establish as a patient. Next Thursday at 10am? Ok. Thanks."
3. Go to appointment. Fill out paperwork.
4. Doctor: "Wow. This paperwork indicates you've maybe got some psychiatric problems. Can you tell me about that?"
5. Respond by bursting into tears.
6. Doctor: "Ok. Want some pills? I think you should take some pills. Let me get you an appointment with the counselor."
7. Take pills. See counselor. Repeat.

The advantages to going to your GP are that they can do med management if needed, investigate organic causes of your problems, and make a referral to someone legit who doesn't try to cure you with aromatherapy and crystals.

I mean, unless you're into that. It helps some people.

This doesn't mean you can't just do steps 1-3 directly with a therapist, though. Just call. Ask if they take insurance. Make an appointment. In my experience, you're sort of flying blind at the beginning. You won't really know if a therapist is going to be right for you until you meet them, anyway, so why agonize over choosing one based on a website?

Hope that helps. Good luck.