VERMONT Magazine Winter 2023 | Page 56

A Slice of Life

A Slice of Life

pandemic . Still , after talking with our client , we had a firm grasp on the direction that we wanted to take the book . Our aim was to tell the story of the Benn while exploring the theme of it being a central community meeting space , where people set aside their differences and came together as equals .”
Dr Mary Cleary Lewis Psychoanalyst
Specializing in the effects of anxiety and depression on family , spousal , and other social relationships .
Doctor of Psychoanalysis
Certificate in Advanced Graduate Studies in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
Office location : 229 Western Avenue Brattleboro , Vermont 05301
Email : DrMaryClearyLewis @ gmail . com
Phone : ( 802 ) 236-3389
Once the scope of the project was established , Randall and Crabtree reached out to Mary Lou Monroe . Although Mary Lou was initially reticent to speak on record , she graciously offered to connect them with members of her family , as well as the former staff members and customers of The Blue Benn . “ Mary Lou ended up being the last person that we interviewed ,” says Crabtree . “ It actually ended up working somewhat in our favor , because we got to apply the knowledge that we had gained from the other interviews towards our interview with her . The interview with Mary Lou tied everything together very nicely .” Crabtree says that earning Mary Lou ’ s trust was one of the most fulfilling aspects of the entire process . “ She really took a leap of faith in opening herself up to us , and she was so grateful with the book that we came back with . That was what was most meaningful and moving for me .”
Following their conversation with Mary Lou , Randall and Crabtree interviewed a diverse group of Blue Benn staff members and customers . “ We wanted a certain number of lawyers , doctors , artists , and blue-collar workers ,” says Randall . “ The idea was to find a mix that we thought accurately represented the diverse range of people that came to the Benn , and I think we ended up finding a good balance .” www . psychologytoday . com / us / therapists / dr-mary-cleary-lewis-brattleboro-vt / 146058
Crabtree recalls that from the moment that he and Randall first began conducting interviews , they were taken aback by the depth of the emotional attachment and reverence that the staff and patrons had for the Monroe family and The Blue Benn . “ In the first interview that Caitlin did , I was
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