"Leave your mobile phones on. I don't mind at all," she announced airily.
"But, if a phone does goes off, I'm going to answer it and say I'm your sex therapist and that you're in a session."
Every phone in the auditorium was immediately checked, to make sure it was off.
Dr Stephenson-Connolly was in Dunedin to promote her fifth book, Sex Life: How Our Sexual Encounters and Experiences Define Who We Are.
The talk by the New Zealand-born author, psychotherapist and wife of comedian Billy Connolly had to be moved from the 150-seat City Library to the 500-seat auditorium because of demand.
Dr Stephenson-Connolly (61) said she wanted the book to explore "the longevity of sexuality".
"I also wanted to dispel some of the myths about sexuality.
You don't retire your pelvis at 45. Many people have fantastic sex in their 80s, 90s and beyond.
It's the same with people who have physical disabilities. Some of the most touching stories I've heard were from people who were challenged that way."
Dr Stephenson-Connolly said she plumbed her own sex life when writing the book.
"I tried to be as honest as I can. Quite honestly, I think about sex all the time," she admitted.
"There's an inner chimeric creature called `Beastie', who I'm constantly negotiating with.
Because we can't act on every sexual urge we have - can we?"
She revealed fantasising about movie star Johnny Depp, which drew murmurs of approval, and television reporter Mark Sainsbury, which drew howls of protest.
"The `am I normal?' question is the most common issue around sexuality," she said.
"Sexuality is a metaphor for an entire relationship. Pleasure is not that easy to achieve."
Dr Stephenson-Connolly has lectured on human sexuality and sex therapy for more than 30 years, running a private practice in Beverly Hills, teaching at the California Graduate Institute and founding the Los Angeles Sexuality Centre.
In 1996, she received an honorary doctorate in science from the Robert Gordon University for her contribution to the field of human sexuality.
A feature on Dr Stephenson-Connolly will appear in Body and Soul on Saturday.
