Home » Celebrities » Chelsea Handler says she's ready for love after years of therapy
Chelsea Handler says she's ready for love after years of therapy
Therapy has given Chelsea Handler a new understanding of herself, her life and her relationships.
The comedian opened up about her personal growth during an appearance this week on "The Talk," speaking candidly about her longtime resistance to long-term romance.
"I have changed my mind about being open to relationships, because I thought I was tough for a really long time,," she said. "And what I learned through therapy is that being really tough is actually being vulnerable. And being able to admit that you want to be in a relationship, you know, and I thought I would sound weak if I said that."
Handler, 44, has never married, but she dated former Comcast CEO Ted Harbert for five years and has been linked to a number of famous faces. Now, she says, she'd like to try more seriously.
"And listen, I have a pretty good life, so I'm happy if I don't find a relationship, but I would love to find someone to love," she said.
34 PHOTOSChelsea Handler out and aboutSee GalleryChelsea Handler out and about
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 24:Chelsea Handler attends the premiere of 'Atomic Blonde' at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on July 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic)
NEW YORK, NY – DECEMBER 02:Chelsea Handler Visits 'The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon' at Rockefeller Center on December 2, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images for NBC)
PASADENA, CA – JULY 29:Chelsea Handler (L) and Tomi Lahren speak during there appearance at Politicon 2017 at Pasadena Convention Center on July 29, 2017 in Pasadena, California.(Photo by Michael Schwartz/Getty Images)
TV personality Chelsea Handler attends 2016 Glamour Women Of The Year Awards in Hollywood, California, on November 14, 2016. / AFP / VALERIE MACON(Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 05:(EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Comedian Chelsea Handler attends American Cancer Society's Giants of Science Los Angeles Gala on November 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Vivien Killilea/WireImage)
PASADENA, CA – JULY 29:Jake Tapper (L) and Chelsea Handler at the 'CNN: Politics on Tap: Special Edition' panel during Politicon at Pasadena Convention Center on July 29, 2017 in Pasadena, California.(Photo by Joshua Blanchard/Getty Images for Politicon)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 27:Comedian Chelsea Handler and honoree Charlize Theron attends amfAR's Inspiration Gala at Milk Studios on October 27, 2016 in Hollywood, California.(Photo by Kevin Tachman/Getty Images for amfAR)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 05:(EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) (L-R) Actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, actress Shannen Doherty, and comedian Chelsea Handler arrive at American Cancer Society's Giants of Science Los Angeles Gala on November 5, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Vivien Killilea/WireImage)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – OCTOBER 27:Chelsea Handlerarrives at the amfAR's Inspiration Gala Los Angeles at Milk Studios on October 27, 2016 in Hollywood, California.(Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 07:(L-R) Actress Kristen Stewart, president of the Brady Center Dan Gross, comedian Chelsea Handler, and actress January Jones attend the Brady Center's Bear Awards Gala at NeueHouse Hollywood on June 7, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 24:Chelsea Handler arrives at the 23rd Annual ELLE Women In Hollywood Awardsat Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills on October 24, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 24:Host Chelsea Handler presents onstage at the 2016 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park To End Extreme Poverty By 2030 at Central Park on September 24, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images)
DANA POINT, CA – OCTOBER 19:Chelsea Handler speaks onstage at the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit 2016 at Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel on October 19, 2016 in Dana Point, California.(Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Fortune)
NEW YORK, NY – SEPTEMBER 18:Comedian& host of Netflix's 'Chelsea',Chelsea Handler attends 2016 Social Good Summitat 92Y on September 18, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by Paul Zimmerman/WireImage)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 26:(EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Comedian/TV host Chelsea Handler visits 'The Elvis Duran Z100 Morning Show' at Z100 Studio on August 26, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 25:Comedian and TV host Chelsea Handler visits AOL Build to discuss the new season of her hit Netflix show, 'Chelsea' at AOL HQ on August 25, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
LATE NIGHT WITH SETH MEYERS — Episode 409 — Pictured: (l-r) Comedian Chelsea Handler during an interview with host Seth Meyers on August 25, 2016 — (Photo by: Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – AUGUST 25:Chelsea Handler seen out in Manhattan onAugust 25, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by Robert Kamau/GC Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 02:Comedian Chelsea Handler attends the Television Academy's 70th Anniversary Gala on June 2, 2016 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Allen Berezovsky/WireImage)
UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – MAY 19:Chelsea Handler visits 'Extra' at Universal Studios Hollywood on May 19, 2016 in Universal City, California.(Photo by Noel Vasquez/Getty Images)
BEVERLY HILLS, CA – MAY 14:Chelsea Handler attends the Netflix's Rebels and Rule Breakers Luncheon and Panel Celebrating the Women of Netflix at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel on May 14, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California.(Photo by Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)
SANTA MONICA, CA – MAY 15:New York Times bestselling author Mandy Ingber and comedian Chelsea Handler attend the launch party for her new book 'Yogalosophy for Inner Strength'at Ron Robinson on May 15, 2016 in Santa Monica, California.(Photo by Randy Shropshire/Getty Images for Mandy Ingber / Seal Press)
PARK CITY, UT – JANUARY 23:(L-R) Logan Hill, comedian Chelsea Handler, and documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlock attend the Cinema Cafe during 2016 Sundance Film Festival at Filmmaker Lodge on January 23, 2016 in Park City, Utah.(Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Sundance Film Festival)
NEW YORK, NY – FEBRUARY 19:Chelsea Handler arrives to 'The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' at Ed Sullivan Theater on February 19, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by James Devaney/GC Images)
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON — Episode 0403 — Pictured: Comedian Chelsea Handler on January 19, 2016 — (Photo by: Theo Wargo/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 19:Chelsea Handler is seen walking in 'Midtown'on January 19, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by Raymond Hall/GC Images)
NEW YORK, NY – JANUARY 15:Chelsea Handler visits 'Sway in the Morning' with Sway Calloway on Eminem's Shade 45 at SiriusXM Studios on January 15, 2016 in New York City.(Photo by Robin Marchant/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – JANUARY 12:Chelsea Handler arrives at the Stella McCartney Autumn 2016 Presentation on January 12, 2016 in Hollywood, California.(Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage)
Comedian Chelsea Handler attends The Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Annual Grants Banquet on August 2, 2017 in Beverly Hills, California. / AFP PHOTO / VALERIE MACON(Photo credit should read VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images)
HOLLYWOOD, CA – SEPTEMBER 27:Chelsea Handler and Laird Hamilton attend the Premiere of Sundance Selects' 'Take Every Wave: The Life Of Laird Hamilton' at ArcLight Hollywood on September 27, 2017 in Hollywood, California.(Photo by Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images,)
Chelsea Handler speaks during Politicon at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California on July 29, 2017. Politicon is a bipartisan convention that mixes politics, comedy and entertainment. (Photo by: Ronen Tivony) (Photo by Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JULY 24:Chelsea Handler and Aisha Tyler take a selfie at the premiere Of Focus Features' 'Atomic Blonde' at The Theatre at Ace Hotel on July 24, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Todd Williamson/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 01:Chelsea Handler attends an evening with Senator Gillibrand at NeueHouse Hollywood on June 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JUNE 01: (L-R) Connie Britton, Chelsea Handler, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Amanda de Cadenet attend an evening with Senator Gillibrand at NeueHouse Hollywood on June 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.(Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)Up Next
Handler's shorter-term relationships were no stranger to headlines, and she's taken interest in people who work in many areas of the entertainment industry. She reportedly spent time with rock star Lenny Kravitz and celebrity chef Bobby Flay, and she dated 50 Cent for several months.
She said on "The Talk" that her work in therapy inspired much of the material of her upcoming stand-up tour and her memoir, "Life Will Be the Death of Me."
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