Character: Raul Light hopediesalone
Is it okay for Octavia to attempt mind controlling them? ttttentative yes
How difficult is she likely to find it? Raul is one of the most stubborn douchebags you are ever likely to meet and that's only gonna get worse. If it's for something simple and stupid, she'll probably manage it, but for something harder (like, say, the thread that prompted this) he's gonna realize something is up and fight back.

Once his brain isn't so squishy, immune of course.