OK...
So, here we go:
Yes. There have been tremendous changes. A shit load of them. Raps are not *nearly* as intense as they used to be. Emphasis on various agreements has shifted dramatically as well. In general, things happen in waves. Some things get easier and other things get harder. When I first got there, clothing agreements were being enforced hardcore. At one point in my stay, the clothing agreements had become so ridiculous that even most of the staff laughed at them. But by the end of my stay, the clothing agreements had loosened up so much I couldn't even believe. I was never really able to completely understand the importance of the clothing agreements, so I was happy when I saw this. OK, I'm rambling. I started talking about raps. OK, so when I first got there, raps were crazy. They scared me shitless. Sometimes their intensity was effective, while other times it was not. Now, however, raps are not nearly as intense most of the time. However, they can become intense if someone chooses to make them intense. The way I see it is that now the program is becoming more flexible and more individualized. If yelling and screaming works for some people, then that is what will be used --- if non-confrontational encouragement works for other people, then that is what will be used instead. On the whole, I think it is usually pretty productive.
As for the workshops, I am not quite sure if they have changed since I have only been in each one once (except the Dreams, which I have been through twice). I have not had any "abusive" experiences in any of the workshops. Yes, at many times they were extremely painful (especially in the Summit where I wanted to die), but in many cases that is what it took to get me to pull my head out of my ass and start taking a look at myself.
OK, well I've talked enough, that's all I got.