Abstract
This study explores senior high school students’ perceptions of school-based guidance and counseling services in the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. Utilizing a descriptive survey design, the study collected data from 362 students across four secondary schools through a structured questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale. Findings reveal a paradox: 93.1% of students recognize the benefits of counseling for academic and career decision-making, yet significant barriers hinder engagement. Notably, 90.9% of students expressed concerns about confidentiality violations, 89.8% found counseling facilities uncomfortable or insufficiently private, and 91.2% reported inconvenient department locations. Additionally, 41.7% viewed counseling as primarily for serious problems, limiting its preventive use. These results align with prior research highlighting systemic issues like resource shortages but uniquely emphasize student-centric barriers such as trust and environmental inadequacies. The study contributes to the literature by offering a student-focused perspective and provides practical recommendations for enhancing service accessibility and trust through improved facilities, confidentiality measures, training and awareness campaigns. These findings will support policymakers and educators aiming to strengthen guidance and counseling in Ghanaian schools.