Hey Muggle - who was the "they" that gave you a therapist? Was it like one name from an EAP or your insurance?
It's been about 20 years since I found my IC and it started with a recommendation from another therapist that my GP suggested to me. I had met with the first one, we weren't a good fit, and she gave me 3 other names to try so I shopped around until I found someone with a style/training background that suited my situation.
When I was in college, I went over to the Psych Department and saw a PhD candidate there for years as part of her schooling. I think it cost me $5 per session. It also wasn't just during the typical "school year" so that's an option. And it was great because it was like getting 2 for 1 on therapists since she had an advisor overseeing our sessions who I met with from time to time as well.
So - there are several ways I can think of if I was doing it now on my own. I would ask everyone in my medical circle for suggestions. I would get a list from my insurance company. I would check online for the nearest university that has a good psych program. I would only hesitate to ask my friends who they see just because I'm weird about boundaries like that and stuff. Maybe a recommendation for a larger practice, but I wouldn't want to see my friend's therapist. That's just me though.
Actually with so many therapists offering services online, I don't know that you are only restricted to your geographical areas right now. Don't quote me on that as I'm sure there are State requirements for providing services, but perhaps you have more options if you're in a rural area. You could "telecommute" to a larger area.
If I was searching online, I might try and see who specializes in what I might be needing: therapists/city name/trauma or infidelity, etc. Most post their bona fides and areas of interest in their profiles.
Don't be afraid to shop and try them on. At the initial intake, I always had a lot of questions too. And remember - if you don't have one who pushes you past your comfort zone, you probably won't get a lot out of it. Or if you're not in the right place to do your work, it's just you sitting there having a chat with someone. The old you get out of it what you put in.
Maybe that helps with some ideas. I can't ever see myself not having an IC available as a resource from time to time. Establishing a long-term relationship is lovely - they know all the goodies of your history, etc.