Where do I stand?

[Aligator]

I have been with my boyfriend now for a year and a half. I have lived with him for six months. We both started new jobs right before we moved in together that involve double the stress than our previous ones. For the past month or so, things have not been smooth. Fighting over the stupidist things, not spending time together etc. It was his idea to see a couselor which we have only gone to once together. Finally he told me this past week he thought we should take a break. He said he still loved me and hopes everything works out for the better, but he is too stressed out now. My first reaction is that ... hello, we live together. How do we take a break when we are going to see each other everyday. My second reaction is ... "wait, I don't know if I can handle this... I love you". So I guess the question I am prefacing here is... Is it the truth? Does he still want to be with me? Or is this just a slower way of breaking up all the way?