Maybe you haven't seen any because much of this is so indvidualized? Do you think maybe because every patient/therapist/pdoc relationships vary? This is a good topic you brought up here. From my experience, one way I feel therapy is working is how I feel when I leave the building, often it is much better than when I walked in for my appt. so I take that means things are working.
I do know though in some instances, and with a former T, I would leave his place more frustrated, but then it was like an up and down thing, some appts. I'd leave feeling better, and then boom! I would find myself feeling crappy.
This is a tough thing to determine, I would guess there are many things we would need to take in consideration, ask ourselves, "what are we trying to get from therapy?", Is it advice, guidance, someone to vent to, someone to care about me, someone that can determine if I need to be referred to pdoc to help therapy work more effeciently? There can be so many indications if the therapy is really helping, a self-quiz would have to be pretty long possibly?
I haven't a clue of the best way to address all of this, but think you brought up a good point, and is worth looking into, maybe as a group thing? Maybe anyone who is interested and finds anything can add to this, this can have the potential to help many here, so let's search around in our spare time and bring info here and share what we come up with.
At the same time, we should "feel" if our therapy is coming along by the way our outlook turns, also do not be afraid to come right out and ask your pdoc or therapist, "well, how do you think I am coming along?" I would think they would have to come out and answer this question, no?

Take care,
"darkeyes"

In giving advice seek to help, not please your friend
SOLON