039: How to Tell If Therapy Is Actually Working: 4 Signs of an Effective Therapist039: How to Tell If Therapy Is Actually Working: 4 Signs of an Effective Therapist
The Shift Show
Registered psychologist Andrea McTague and therapist Brendan Braithwaite talk through clear, practical signs that therapy is genuinely working. They focus on structure, measurable change, and honest feedback as key markers of an effective therapist.
43:06•9 Jun 2026
Is Your Therapist Actually Helping? 4 Clear Signs to Look For
Episode Overview
- Ask your therapist to explain their game plan, including how the first several sessions will look and what framework they are using.
- Look for more than venting; effective sessions focus on root causes and concrete change, not just talking around problems.
- Notice whether meaningful shifts start to appear around session five or six, especially as deeper memories and beliefs are addressed.
- A strong therapist is reasonably directive, willing to offer honest feedback and challenge unhelpful patterns while still being respectful.
- Therapy should feel structured and purposeful, with each session working towards outcomes rather than endlessly revisiting the same issues.
“"If your therapist is competent, you should be moving needles in your life."”
How do people find strength in their journey to sobriety? One big piece is having therapy that actually works, and this conversation helps you spot the difference between real progress and expensive chit-chat. Registered psychologist and ShiftGrit founder Andrea McTague sits down with mental health therapist Brendan Braithwaite to talk frankly about what separates effective therapy from going in circles.
They share what Brendan learnt in his internship and early career, including the shock of realising many clients aren’t in full crisis, but simply want to "level up" areas like relationships, eating habits, procrastination, or money. You’ll hear how their highly structured method focuses on identifying core "limiting beliefs" from early life, then using exposure and counter-conditioning to change them, rather than just soothing symptoms.
They compare this to endlessly putting a "band-aid on a wound" instead of actually healing it. For anyone in recovery or facing long-term mental health struggles, Andrea and Brendan offer very practical tests for whether therapy is working. They suggest asking your therapist for a clear game plan, checking whether sessions are mostly venting or focused on change, and watching for visible shifts around session five or six, when deeper work usually kicks in.
As Andrea puts it, "If your therapist is competent, you should be moving needles in your life." They also argue that a great therapist is disciplined, a bit directive, and willing to choose "truth over comfort"—pointing out unhelpful patterns while still showing genuine respect and care. Rather than aiming to be your best mate, they see their job as offering "educated love": understanding where your patterns come from and helping you build a calmer, more authentic version of yourself.
If you’ve ever wondered whether your sessions are actually helping, this conversation might nudge you to ask braver questions and expect more from your therapy. What kind of support do you really want your therapist to give you?
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