I interpreted this post a bit differently from some of the other comments here, insofar as I don't think your partner comes off as a terrible person - just as someone who doesn't communicate in the same way you do and is conflict-avoidant rather than confrontational. COVID + unemployment would have anybody stressed and it's likely you're both not at your very best. Even though I think you intended to facilitate a discussion re. your communication styles and propensity for argument, it seems like he reacted defensively and interpreted it as some sort of personal attack. As a third party, it's impossible for me to say whether something in your words, tone, body language, etc., was "objectively" pointed - but what's more important is that, whether correctly or incorrectly, your partner read it as such, probably in part because he's under heightened stress to begin with.

You've only been dating for eight months and you've already both indicated a general intention toward marriage in the future. I don't think your partner's stance of wanting to fix your conflict issues before getting married is unreasonable, but I also suspect he's someone who is prone to cracking under pressure (at least in an interpersonal context). He may be someone who needs quite a bit more space to figure himself out, or he may be an ass, I don't know; he may be a mixture of both those things.

All that being said, it's only been eight month and already you're starting to talk about couple's counseling. Even under the umbrella of COVID, that is concerning. Sometimes, people who make good friends just don't work in the context of a relationship. If I were you, I'd sit with myself and really try to figure out whether this person will be a good long-term partner for you, or if being with him will just cause you more stress and worry and heartache.