It is both strange and comforting to read a one word definition of so much of my life.
A heuristic (from Ancient Greek εὑρίσκω (heurískō) ‘to find, discover’), or heuristic technique, is any approach to problem solving or self-discovery that employs a practical method that is not guaranteed to be optimal, perfect, or rational, but is nevertheless sufficient for reaching an immediate, short-term goal or approximation. Where finding an optimal solution is impossible or impractical, heuristic methods can be used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution.
This seems to be a reasonable definition of therapy and life (at least my life)