Good. I'm really glad to hear you're receptive to doing this right. Here's the short version.
In the moment, it can seem like you're 100% sure, especially early on. But there are a lot of people who think that and later discover that their issues weren't quite as simple as they thought. It's really complicated stuff. You might talk to a professional for a few months, clear things up, and only have that confirm what you originally thought. Then you can start transitioning. That's very possible. Or it might go the opposite way. It does happen, even to some people who think they're sure. That's why therapy is the first step. I would look for that first. And even if you don't really want it, there is actually a set protocol for this stuff, and that protocol typically involves therapy first. You want doctors to cooperate with you, right? That means you have to play by the rules, even if it can be a little frustrating at times.
Once you go through this step, if you choose to proceed, they will eventually give you a letter which you can take to an endocrinologist. This is the doctor who will manage the hormonal part of your transition.
If you don't have coverage, get it. I've found Kaiser to be really good, but I hear it varies a lot by area. So you might call ahead to their offices in your area and ask specifically if they have services for transgender individuals.
Anyway, once you've got some kind of coverage, I'd look up psychologists in your area. I'd call or e-mail ahead of time and ask directly, "Do you have experience dealing with gender identity issues?" You'd probably do best with somebody who knows the terrain a little, though it's not strictly necessary.
One broad listing is the APA website.
http://locator.apa.org/ There you can look up a list, including selecting a specific issue. "Gender Identity" is one you can choose.
However, that's not an exhaustive list, and the people there may or may not be covered by your insurance. So what I would look for is the specific listing that your insurance company has. Usually, there's some kind of button where you can "Find a Provider", where you select a type of doctor, and it gives you a list of doctors in your area that they cover.
Just remember, the goal of this journey is to find the truth about yourself, not to reach a predetermined endpoint. If that truth means you need to transition, we will be here to support you. I'm just telling you all of this stuff because I want you to do this right and be sure, so you'll be happy with your decision.
