Different Hats, Different Scenarios

Different Hats, Different Scenarios

Angie Pellerin and Bennett Rachal of Counseling Services held a workshop Sept. 28, which focused on assertiveness. This workshop provided students with information on how to be more assertive in certain scenarios. 

Students learned about assertiveness being a learned behavior over time. Pellerin discussed how people who are not assertive tend to not say no in situations. She also referred to this as being a “people pleaser”.

“The one time you say no because you [have] your own stuff, your own test to study for, or whatever, they make you feel bad because they’re used to depending on you. That’s an issue,” Pellerin said. 

Rachal elaborated by telling students to look outside of themselves. 

He insisted that when you begin to look on the outside, it improves the stage that we are setting for addiction. 

Pellerin and Rachal discussed how people pleasing leads to addiction because depression develops. This is linked to being taught at a young age that we should not react poorly in certain situations. 

“We all wear different hats in different scenarios,” Pellerin said.

”To me, what we’re talking about is that we’re being denied our personal power by crawling into that pattern,” Rachal said.

I sat down with Pellerin after the workshop for further discussion. 

When planning this workshop, Pellerin considered students who do not come to counseling and her personal experience with people pleasing. 

“I’m a recovering people pleaser myself. I also work with students as clients in counseling. I find time and time again [that] is something they struggle with,” Pellerin said. 

People that are passive aggressive in these scenarios tend to react this way due to defense mechanisms. Pellerin named sarcasm as one of these mechanisms. 

Pellerin expressed excitement when discussing why she loves her job. She enjoys helping students and providing them with guidance. 

“I can see them change. I can witness it. I can see with within 3 or 4 sessions sometimes a night and day difference, and that is so rewarding to me”, Pellerin said. 

She is able to use her guidance to connect with young women who are going through similar situations she has faced.

Pellerin knows that there are students who are sometimes afraid of counseling. She mentioned that people link counseling to a mental illness stigma. This leads to people avoiding counseling.

“Life is hard and sometimes we need to find that fine line of where we’re not super needy, but also knowing when to ask for help,” Pellerin said. 

Counseling services are offered free to all students. Services can be scheduled or by walk-ins. For more information, you can contact Angie Pellerin at angie.pellerin@lsus.edu.