American relationship coach reveals how an imaginary person helped save her marriage

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Relationship coach reveals how an ‘imaginary person’ helped save her marriage – and she’s not the only one

  • A relationship coach has revealed how she avoids arguing with her husband 
  • Tara Blair Ball said they blame an imaginary person for mistakes they’ve made
  • In a TikTok video which has gone viral, she said the blame is placed on ‘Rick’   
  • ‘What this does is bring levity and humour to a relationship,’ she said 

By Carina Stathis For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

A relationship coach has revealed how she and her husband blame small problems on an imaginary person to avoid arguing with each other.

Tara Blair Ball, from the US, shared the advice in a TikTok video which has been viewed more than 7.7 million times.

In the clip she explains how they both put the blame on their imaginary scapegoat ‘Rick’ when something goes wrong.

‘What this does is bring levity and humour to a relationship. Which is what we all need, right?’ Tara said.

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She shared the advice in a TikTok video which has been viewed more than 7.7 million times

Tara Blair Ball (pictured) and her husband put the blame on ‘Rick’, their imaginary scapegoat, when something goes wrong

For instance, ‘Rick’ is blamed if a bill isn’t paid on time or if the laundry isn’t done.

‘”Rick” is our scapegoat. But you know what’s great? We don’t scapegoat each other because of him,’ Tara said.

A ‘scapegoat’ is a term used to describe a person who is blamed for wrongdoings, mistakes or faults of others. 

Using an imaginary one reminds the couple they are a team that shouldn’t turn on each other but instead work on the relationship together.

The tactic also encourages the couple to work together to solve larger problems or issues that may need to be resolved.

Tara said it brings humour to the relationship and reminds the pair not to be too serious about everyday inconveniences.

For instance, 'Rick' is blamed if a bill isn't paid on time or if the laundry isn't done

'What this does is bring levity and humour to a relationship. Which is what we all need, right?' Tara said in the video

‘What this does is bring levity and humour to a relationship. Which is what we all need, right?’ Tara said in the video

How blaming an imaginary person can help a relationship

1. Encourages team work rather than working against your partner or causing an argument 

2. Encourages the couple to team up against the problem itself in order to resolve it

3. Reminds the couple to not be so serious

4. Brings humour and levity to the situation and relationship 

Her video was flooded with more than 12,000 comments from viewers around the world, with some saying they implement the same tactic with their partners.

‘We do this but we blame the cat,’ one person wrote.

Another woman said she and her partner blame issues on ‘Casper’, the household ghost.

‘My husband and I do this but with stuff that goes missing, we blame it on the gremlin in the closet,’ said a third.