You asked about opening up to a stranger:

1. Don't think of your therapist as a stranger, they are a health care professional.

2. Start off trying to open up about smaller things. Then once you've built a relationship with your therepist you can start to discuss more difficult issues.

3. Don't be afraid to ask questions about everything. The better informed you are, the better you should feel about what's going on in your life

I've been dealing with depression for about 2 years, email me if you want to talk.