I concur with you. I feel therapists just validate people's feelings and that it is okay to feel what they feel.
If this is all the therapist is doing, then they are not the therapist for you.
If objectively observable progress isn't being made according to whatever goals were set out at the beginning of therapy, then they need to address this and figure out if there are any obstacles they can help break down or any alternative approaches in treatment they can try, or maybe a psychiatrist should be seen in conjunction with the therapy to adjust medication regimen. There are a lot of different factors that can slow down or stop progress. Many of these factors can be addressed. But if not, then they should be referring you elsewhere to someone who may be better equipped to help you move forward. As the patient, it is OK to initiate this conversation with them.
Expectations and general goals should be agreed upon very early on in the process, with a check-in on this subject once in a while to ensure that both patient and therapist are still in accordance.
While some people may benefit strictly from "just having someone to talk to each week and having their feelings validated," generally, both parties want to see consistent progress being made (while allowing for temporary setbacks), otherwise looking at what's inhibiting that progress or else referring out.